Scam crossed multiple companies and product lines
Two men have been imprisoned for 15 months each after being convicted of defrauding a number of insurance companies.
The case, which concluded with sentencing at Preston Crown Court today, followed a three year long joint operation code named ‘Flash’ between the Insurance Fraud Bureau and Lancashire Constabulary. The investigation into the claims took two years.
Nadeem and Amer Dad, both of Barkerhouse Road in Nelson, were each sentenced to 15 months in gaol, of which they have already served 25 days.
Munsiff Dad, also of Barkerhouse Road, and Recordus Oleskeviscius, were both given nine month sentences suspended for 2 years. Oleskeviscius was also ordered to carry out 240 hours unpaid work
The individuals were found to have submitted false household, pet and motor claims. As a part of the investigations, property believed to have been fraudulently obtained was retained by the police.
Fortis Insurance approached the IFB in 2007 with suspicions around a number of claims. Following investigation, the IFB identified a significant number of further claims that fell across both different insurers and product lines.
The bureau contacted detectives at Lancashire Police with more than 100 potentially suspect claims.
Individually these claims were designed to appear independent, but upon investigation, they were discovered to be linked by common bank details, false supplier names, similar wording on invoices supplied to the insurers and details around the loss. The scam required the gang to report false incidents not only to insurers but in some instances also to the police.
Detective Inspector Groombridge, Nelson CID said: "Dishonest claimants cost the decent law abiding public dearly and nowhere is this more evident than in the Nelson area. Every resident, motorist and trader potentially pays increased premiums to compensate for the greed of these criminals who flaunt the trappings of wealth but have no discernable honest source of income. I am particularly encouraged by the working relationship that has developed through this case with the Insurance Fraud Bureau, this has been a great success and I look forward to this dual investigative role being effective in the future".
IFB Board Member Richard Davies, said: “The members of the IFB are determined to protect honest policy holders and this is a clear example of the power of collaboration. We are delighted with the results of this operation which sees organised fraudsters across multiple insurance products on our radar. There is growing evidence to show that the proceeds from this type of fraud are used to fund other forms of serious crime including drugs trafficking and gun running.
