Ghost broker sentenced after Aviva investigation

Aviva has caught a fraudster who sold invalid policies and tried to take out car insurance for himself by covering up his driving offences.

Mohamed Choudhary, of Plashet Grove, Newham, was banned from driving for 11 months in March 2020 after being caught driving while already disqualified.

Towards the end of his second driving ban, however, the 33-year-old tried to take out a motor insurance policy with Aviva using a fake no-claims discount certificate.

While investigating the policy, Aviva uncovered that Choudhary was also a ghost broker, a term used to describe fraudsters who sell fake insurance policies.

Sentence

Aviva referred the case to the City of London Police’s Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (Ifed) for investigation.

Choudhary pleaded guilty at Inner London Crown Court on 1 July 2024 to two counts of fraud by false representation and carrying on a regulated activity when not authorised or exempt.

At the same court on 13 September 2024, he was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years.

He is also subject to a six month curfew, which runs daily from 9pm to 6am and is monitored by an electronic tag.

And he must complete 150 hours of unpaid work and pay £1,630 in costs.

‘Plan backfired’

Detective Constable Jim Allwood said: “Choudhary thought he was being clever by using a fake certificate to get a discount on his insurance policy, but his plan backfired when it resulted in more of his fraudulent activity coming to light.

“What Choudhary didn’t realise is that insurance companies will pick up on red flags like fake documents and false details on insurance applications.

“Thanks to the due diligence from Aviva, we were able to secure this result and put a stop to his actions before he could target more victims with fake car insurance policies.”

Victoria Mulholland, fraud investigations manager at Aviva, added: “The outcome of this hearing should act as a deterrent to those seeking to financially profit from fraudulently arranging low cost motor insurance.

“Aviva works tirelessly with industry partners including the Insurance Fraud Bureau and Ifed to identify and disrupt ghost brokers.”