Police target £4.4m travel insurance fraud in nationwide enforcement drive

The City of London Police’s Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED) has intensified its enforcement activity against travel insurance fraud, carrying out a UK-wide operation that resulted in three arrests, four voluntary interviews, and two cease-and-desist notices. The campaign targeted individuals suspected of exploiting travel insurance policies through dishonest claims.

Among the cases investigated was a suspect who admitted fabricating multiple bereavements to justify repeated holiday cancellation claims, agreeing to repay insurers £22,000. In separate investigations, officers arrested a Birmingham man accused of faking his own death in Nigeria to support an insurance claim, while a Hertfordshire woman is alleged to have submitted 37 fraudulent claims for delayed or missed transport. Another defendant has pleaded guilty to fraud and money laundering after submitting forged medical documents relating to treatment in the Caribbean, with sentencing scheduled for 23 June.

Detective Sergeant Oliver Gent said the operation demonstrated that fraudulent travel insurance claims “will be investigated and held to account”.

The latest crackdown comes as travel insurance fraud remains a persistent challenge for insurers. IFED has received 102 referrals for travel insurance fraud over the past five years, with an insurer-estimated value of £4.4 million and an average of £44,942 per case.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has previously reported that UK insurers detected 72,600 dishonest insurance claims worth £1.1 billion in 2022 and invest at least £200 million annually in fraud detection, warning that insurance fraud ultimately drives up premiums for honest customers.