Current timestamp: 03/02/2023 04:18:30
AgeAlertAnonymousAppealsApplicationsApply Or RegisterArea OutlineArrow DownArrow LeftArrow RightArrow UpAutomatic DoorsBack ArrowBusinessCalendarCashArrow DownArrow LeftArrow RightArrow Down[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-chrome' for 'English (United Kingdom)']ClockCloseContactDirectionsDocumentDownloadDrawDrugExpandExternal LinkFacebookFb CommentFb LikeFiletype DefaultFiletype DocFiletype PdfFiletype PptFiletype XlsFinance[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-firefox' for 'English (United Kingdom)']First AidFlickrFraudGive FeedbackGlobeGuide DogHealthHearing ImpairedInduction LoopInfoInstagramIntercom[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-internet-explorer' for 'English (United Kingdom)']LaptopLiftLinkedinLocal ActivityLoudspeakerLow CounterMailMapMap PinMembershipMenuMenu 2[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-microsoft-edge' for 'English (United Kingdom)']Missing PeopleMobility ImpairmentNationalityNorth PointerOne Mile RadiusOverviewPagesPaper PlaneParkingPdfPhonePinterestPlayPushchairRefreshReportRequestRestart[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-rotate-clockwise' for 'English (United Kingdom)']Rss[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-safari' for 'English (United Kingdom)']SearchShareSign LanguageSnapchatStart AgainStatsStats And Prevention AdviceStopSubscribeTargetTattosTell Us AboutTickTumblrTwenty Four HoursTwitterTwitter LikeTwitter ReplyTwitter RetweetUploadVisually ImpairedWhatsappWheelchairWheelchair AssistedWheelchair ParkingWheelchair RampWheelchair WcYoutubeZoom InZoom Out

Quickly exit this site by pressing the Escape key Leave this site

Skip to main content

Skip to main navigation

Welcome

This site is a beta, which means it's a work in progress and we'll be adding more to it over the next few weeks. Your feedback helps us make things better, so please let us know what you think.

Show me the site

city-header-logo-white ( 1)

Search this website

Main navigation menu

  • Report

    Back to Report

    • Crime
    • Road traffic incident
    • Report antisocial behaviour
    • Missing person
    • Fraud
    • Civil disputes
    • Lost or found property
    • Lost or stolen vehicles
  • Tell us about

    Back to Tell us about

    • Tell us about possible terrorist activity
    • How to tell us about something you've seen or heard
    • A procession or event you are planning
    • Abnormal vehicle load
  • Apply or register

    Back to Apply or register

    • Careers
    • Charity collection licences
    • Compensation for victims of crime
    • Firearm, shotgun or explosives certificate
    • Attend a misconduct hearing
  • Request

    Back to Request

    • A collision report
    • Intellectual property (IP) licence
    • Request your fingerprints
    • Information: about the police, about yourself or someone else
  • Thanks and complaints

    Back to Thanks and complaints

    • Complaints
    • Say thanks
    • Feedback about the website
  • Your area

Breadcrumb

  1. ...
  2. News

BRICKS & FRAUDSTER: Construction company secretary sentenced for fraudulent insurance claim

Main article content

Navigation

IFED

12:00 12/02/2021

The company secretary of a family-run construction and maintenance firm has been sentenced for making a fraudulent insurance claim. The claim could have inflicted a potential loss of over £5,000 to one of the UK’s biggest insurers.

Anthony Dowson, 31, of Littleton Road, Salford, was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for twelve months and eighty hours of unpaid work on Thursday 11 February 2021 at Manchester Crown Court, for Conspiracy to Commit Fraud by False Representation. The case was referred to the City of London Police’s Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED) for investigation, after the insurer, Direct Line Group, became suspicious of a claim submitted on the company’s public liability policy.

Acting Detective Sergeant Adam Maskell, from the City of London Police’s Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department, said:

“Dowson shamelessly manipulated his role in his family’s business to try defraud his insurer out of thousands of pounds. He deliberately damaged property and presented fake documents to substantiate the claim; however, his lies were poorly-constructed, and cracks soon began to show.

“To many this may appear to be a victimless crime, but it certainly is not. Crimes like this lead to law abiding members of the public suffering, with the latest figures indicating that insurance fraud raises the average household’s premiums by £50 per year.

“Direct Line Group were right to act on their suspicions, and it is this kind of collaborative work between the industry and law enforcement that bolsters the fight against economic crime.”

In July 2016, Dowson’s firm submitted a claim to Direct Line Group for damage caused during works at an address in Salford.

The claim involved the replacement of a boiler, after an employee of Dowson’s company supposedly drilled through a pipe whilst laying new flooring for a customer. Dowson provided a report to Direct Line Group which he alleged was from a local plumbing company. The report deemed the boiler a total loss and estimated a cost of around £2,000 to replace the appliance. Eight months later, the insurer was informed that the replacement of the boiler had been arranged, receiving various invoices from the same company totalling £2,690. Further invoices were sent through the following month, now claiming that the replacement amounted to £5,020.

Investigations into this claim raised a number of issues. The phone numbers listed for the plumbing company were found to be associated with Dowson’s mother and brother, whilst examination of the invoices identified that these were fraudulent and had been created by the accused. Further checks exposed that the ‘customer’ was in fact Dowson’s father, and that the address where the incident took place was the same address to which the family’s construction company was registered.

A statement was provided by an employee from the plumbing company, who confirmed that they did not complete the boiler replacement as claimed by Dowson; however, someone from the company had previously attended the property to assess the boiler, concluding that it was faulty and would need to be replaced.

Mike Brown, Head of Counter Fraud of Direct Line Group, said:

"At Direct Line Group, we’re on it to detect and deter as much fraud as possible. Across our business we have highly skilled investigators who are working continuously with intelligence and our sophisticated data analysis programmes to crack down on any fraudulent claims. 

“We work with all law enforcement agencies to assist them in preparing cases for criminal prosecution. Successful prosecutions like this one protects the wider public and enables us to protect the premiums of our innocent customers. We are delighted that the perpetrator of this fraud has been brought to justice, the sentence should serve as a stark warning to others that insurance fraud is not a victimless crime and harsh sentences will be sought in support of DLG zero tolerance approach to insurance fraud.”

Share

Is there a problem with this page?

Footer navigation

We use cookies on this site to give you a better, more personalised experience.

I'm fine with cookies I'd like to manage the cookies

City of London Police

  • Contact us
  • About us
  • Careers
  • Become a police constable
  • News
  • Find a police station
  • Campaigns
  • Privacy Notice
  • Terms and conditions

Information and services

  • Advice and information
  • Crime prevention advice
  • Stats and data
  • Accessing information
  • Report
  • Tell us about
  • Apply or register
  • Request
  • Thanks and complaints

Partners

  • Police.uk
  • Ask the Police
  • City of London Corporation

Follow us on:

© Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.