The department anticipates that fraud is likely to increase due to the cost of living crisis and resumed foreign travel

The City of London Police’s Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED) has cracked down on UK travel cover crime with seven arrests.

The arrests – which were conducted by officers deployed across operations in Hampshire, Surrey, London, Sheffield and Liverpool – were as follows:

  • Two 37-year-old women were arrested separately in Bognor Regis on suspicion of fraud by false representation, conspiracy to defraud and money laundering.
  • A 36-year-old man was arrested in Bogner Regis on suspicion of fraud by false representation, conspiracy to defraud and money laundering.
  • Two 36-year-old men were arrested separately in Chichester on suspicion of fraud by false representation, conspiracy to defraud and money laundering.
  • A 35-year-old manwas arrested in Bromley on suspicion of fraud by false representation.
  • A 27-year-old man was arrested in Liverpool on suspicion of fraud by false representation.

Officers also conducted 12 interviews in connection with the investigations.

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Read more… Cost of living crisis drives greater fraud volume and frequency from non-traditional sources

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The arrests followed IFED running an awareness campaign at the start of the summer holidays that asked the public to check they were properly insured before travelling abroad.

The public was also reminded that it is a criminal offence to exploit a travel insurance policy by making bogus claims.

Exposing ‘cheats’

Detective chief inspector Tom Hill, head of the City of London Police’s IFED, said that “unfortunately, people continue to flout the law” when dealing with their travel insurer.

IFED further noted that it anticipated insurance fraud could increase now that foreign travel has resumed post-pandemic.

It added that the cost of living crisis could potentially also push customers to ease financial hardship through illegal means.

Read: Industry fraud crackdown sees dishonest claims fall in number and cost – ABI

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Hill continued: “During this enforcement period, we have seen the breadth of misfortunes that criminals will exploit for fraudulent gain – from an individual pretending to have food poisoning whilst on a Caribbean getaway, to an organised crime group with inside links to insurance companies.

“Travel insurance is intended to be a reassuring safety net should the worst happen, not a means of personal financial gain.

“We hope that this period of enforcement sends a clear message to fraudsters – this type of crime will not be tolerated and we will bring criminals to justice for their actions.”

The Association of British Insurers’ (ABI) chief fraud and financial crime officer Mark Allen said: “The insurance industry remains totally committed to exposing insurance cheats, as the impact of insurance fraud ends up being paid for by all honest policyholders.

“Travel insurance plays a vital role in protecting people when they travel abroad, but not to line the pockets of fraudsters.

“This latest crackdown by the IFED further highlights that there is no hiding place for the dishonest.”

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