ERS steps up application fraud fight with senior hire

ERS has hired Linda Rees as head of underwriting fraud in a bid to strengthen its fight against application fraud.

Rees has 19 years’ experience in the insurance market and most recently she held the role of intelligence and organised fraud manager at LV=.

Prior to this she was case strategy and development manager at the Insurance Fraud Bureau.

In her new role, Rees will focus on developing four core strategies within ERS: underwriting integrity; identity and validation; unwanted returning customers and organised/serious fraudsters.

She will report directly to ERS active underwriter Mark Bacon.

ERS said over the last two years it had concentrated on combating fraud in the claims arena and now the specialist motor insurer wanted to develop its capacity to fight underwriting fraud.

The insurer added Rees would collaborate with underwriting and claims functions to ensure that ERS had a “clear and consistent” approach and response to all forms of underwriting fraud.

She will also work closely with brokers and distribution partners to ensure they understand the insurer’s approach.

Bacon said: “ERS is committed to fighting all forms of application fraud, whether it is the misrepresentation of information or policies being taken out with the intention of staging accidents and falsifying claims. Linda will be integral in championing our underwriting fraud and validation agenda.

“She has impressive experience in and understanding of all forms of insurance fraud and will lead our efforts in combating the spectre of all forms of application fraud.

“This in turn will help ensure that we continue to offer competitive and high quality products to honest customers and those brokers that work with us to detect and defend against fraud.”

Commenting on her appointment Rees added: “I hope to use my skills and experience to bring our fraud strategy to life, working closely with a wide variety of teams to knowledge share and put in place robust systems and procedures to protect the business from all types of underwriting fraud.”

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