Main Points:

• Fraud is the act of deception to gain financial benefits.
• The financial impact affects everyone involved, even innocent parties.
• Always tell someone if you suspect fraudulent activity.
• Contact us if you’re concerned about fraudulent activity and your policy.
• To report fraud, you can contact Action Fraud and the Insurance Fraud Bureau. 

What should I do if I suspect someone is committing insurance fraud?

If you suspect someone is committing insurance fraud, it’s important to report what is happening. Staying calm and making sure you have all the information ready are key steps to take before you take the step to report your concerns. 

How do I report insurance fraud?

You should report your suspicions to the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB), Action Fraud, or directly contact us or your insurer. 

You’ll need to provide as much information as possible, including details of the suspected fraudster and the incident. 

The type of information you’ll need when reporting insurance fraud can range from:

• Details about who you’ve been speaking to, such as name, address, and numbers.
• The reason why you suspect they’re committing fraud.
• Whether you’ve shared any personal information with them and what has happened as a result. 
• If you’ve paid them money and how you have sent it. 
• Any screenshots or physical copies of correspondence with them.
• Their website and social media profile, if available. 

Do not attempt to investigate or confront the person yourself, as this could be dangerous and may compromise any further proceedings. 

Who can I call to report an insurance scam?

If you want to report an insurance scam directly on the phone, you can call the following organisations:

• Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) on 0800 422 0421
• Action Fraud Police on 0300 123 2040 (Monday to Friday 8am – 8 pm)

Alternatively, you can reach out to us by calling 01782880140 so we can liaise with the appropriate channels and conduct our own investigation into the matter. 

If you’d prefer an alternative to a telephone call, there are other ways to contact us. Either head to our support page to fill out a form, or you can outline your concerns and send an email to info@onesureinsurance.co.uk. 

What is insurance fraud?

Insurance fraud is the act of deceiving an insurance company in order to obtain financial advantages. It’s a growing problem nationally that costs the UK millions each year.

Unfortunately, this also has a direct effect on innocent customers like you, as it can drive premiums up more and more. Let’s also not forget that for victims of insurance fraud, the results are just as devastating psychologically as they are financially. 

At One Sure Insurance, we aim to do everything we can to spot fraudulent activity early and to support customers who have been affected. 

Read on to find out more about how to report fraud, or use the contents navigator on the left to find the answer to your question on all things fraud-related. 

What is the punishment for insurance fraud?

Committing insurance fraud can result in serious consequences, including criminal charges, fines, and imprisonment. 

Not only do these consequences impact the present, but they can also cause problems in the future. Anyone confirmed of committing insurance fraud will have their details uploaded to the Insurance Fraud Register (IFR). Insurers use this database to double-check if a person has a history of insurance fraud. 

Having a criminal record as a result of committing insurance fraud can prevent you from gaining employment, getting a mortgage, and taking out any type of insurance policy, such as home insurance or car insurance. 

What types of insurance scams should I be aware of?

Insurance fraud comes in many forms. To stay safe, be vigilant and protect ourselves from falling victim to these fraudsters, it’s essential that we learn to know what a scam looks like and recognise the tell-tale signs. 

For information on how to detect a scam, read our guide: How To Spot An Insurance Scam

The most common types of fraud include:

False Claims

Submitting fictitious claims for events or damages that never occurred. For example, someone might claim that their car was stolen when it was not, or they may exaggerate the extent of damage to their property to receive a larger insurance payout. These types of scams are very common with home insurance.

Staged Accidents and Intentional Damage

Deliberately causing accidents, often involving multiple parties, to make fraudulent claims for injuries and vehicle damage. These accidents are carefully orchestrated to create the appearance of an authentic accident.

Application Fraud

Providing false or misleading information when applying for insurance coverage to obtain lower premiums. This can include misrepresenting personal information, such as age or occupation, or failing to disclose relevant facts that could affect the premium.

Policy Fraud

Modifying an existing insurance policy or producing counterfeit insurance documents to misrepresent coverage or obtain coverage that would not otherwise be granted.

Ghost Brokers

These are individuals posing as insurance brokers who sell fake or non-existent insurance policies to unsuspecting customers. Victims may believe they are insured when, in reality, they have no coverage.

Identity Theft

Using stolen or fabricated identities to take out insurance policies and subsequently make claims under those policies.

Why is fraud prevention so important?

Insurance fraud prevention is essential for insurers, brokers, and policyholders. It helps maintain the integrity of the insurance industry and keeps premiums affordable for everyone to ensure that genuine policyholders receive the protection they deserve. We take fraud extremely seriously and have our own measures in place to prevent it from continuing.

What fraud mitigation measures does One Sure have in place?

Our fraud mitigation measures cover multiple aspects of the insurance application process and beyond. 

First and foremost, our staff receives regular quarterly training materials to stay updated with the latest information regarding fraudulent activity and robust annual training to broaden their knowledge. 

Our teams also use sophisticated fraud software that enables us to carry out regular checks. 

Our pre-cover checks include:

• ID verification.
• Researching previous online activity.
• Companies house checks.
• Cross-referencing information from our database to check for previous fraudulent activity. 

Our post-cover checks include:

• Checking the number of vehicles added to the Motor Insurance Database (MID).
• Detecting suspicious activity, such as unusual update patterns.
• Monitoring registration details added.
• Verifying the IP address.

Any suspicious activity is flagged by our software, notifying us immediately that someone may be committing fraud. Additionally, we approach the insurers we work with to show our findings and better protect you as our customers alongside our partners.