Current timestamp: 31/03/2023 11:20:28
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

Former pet insurance company employee who fled to the US sentenced

Main article content

Navigation

IFED

11:06 11/08/2021

A man from London has been sentenced for stealing £67,499.88 from his employer through bogus insurance claims and then fleeing to the United States in order to avoid prosecution.

Rasheed Talabi, 34, of Hombury Grove, Croydon, London, abused his position as a Claims Assessor at a widely-used insurer in order to create fictitious customers and submit fraudulent claims for pet insurance on these policies. Talabi was arrested by the City of London Police’s Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED), after his employer noticed issues with the claims he was handling. Whilst on release under investigation, Talabi fled to the US ahead of his impending court date.

Through collaborative efforts with US law enforcement and immigration, IFED officers were able to track Talabi down and he was subsequently arrested. He was then extradited to the UK and arrested upon his arrival at Heathrow Airport in April 2021.

Talabi pleaded guilty to Fraud by Abuse of Position in May 2021 and was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years and 175 hours of unpaid work at the Central Criminal Court on Tuesday 10 August 2021.

Police Staff Investigator Abdelkader Rezkallah, from the City of London Police’s Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED), said:

“Today’s outcome is proof that you cannot outrun the law. Talabi clearly thought that he could flee halfway across the world and avoid prosecution. However, he failed to consider the determination of IFED in the fight against insurance fraud, as well as the relationships between international law enforcement agencies.

“We are extremely grateful for the hard work of the New York District Attorney Office and US Homeland Security in returning Talabi to the UK so that he could be rightfully punished.

“Talabi has deceived his employer and his friends, as well as stealing the identities of unknowing members of the public. Even after admitting to his offences, Talabi did not accept responsibility for his actions by facing justice cooperatively, and the chaos he caused has been reflected in his punishment.”

In his role as a Claims Assessor for Allianz Insurance, Talabi was responsible for processing and finalising insurance claims made by customers for illness or death of a pet, a role in which he worked for over two years.

Talabi used his knowledge of  the insurer’s processes and systems to avoid and undermine audit controls. However, as part of a standard audit process, Allianz’s claims validation team ran checks and noticed a pattern of claims that had vet fee claims followed by a death claim for the same breed of dog. All of these claims were handled by Talabi and the amount the dog was insured for was identical across all of the policies.

Fraudulent internet applications submitted by Talabi

The review into Talabi’s work revealed that he had created eleven fraudulent insurance policies, with forty-one claims in total across these policies.

Following a referral from the insurer, IFED officers arrested and interviewed the suspect. Talabi admitted to the offences in full, disclosing that he had set up email addresses in false names to take out the policies with his employer. He had also convinced friends to let him direct the payments into their bank accounts, claiming that he was having issues with his bank and so needed to divert his salary elsewhere. 

Upon searching the suspect’s home, officers discovered uncashed cheques in the names of the fabricated customers, as well as letters addressed to these from the insurer. Whilst the names and email addresses of the policyholders were fake, further enquiries found that Talabi had stolen genuine addresses to substantiate the claims.

Talabi failed to appear at court and was declared as wanted on the national police database. Suspecting that he had fled to the US, the unit worked with the New York District Attorney Office and US Homeland Security to ascertain Talabi’s location.

It soon came to light that Talabi had not disclosed his legal issues upon entering the US. Talabi repeatedly lied to immigration services whilst attempting to secure permanent resident status, which resulted in his application being denied. The fugitive fled once more from Newark, New Jersey to Houston, Texas, where he was eventually arrested.

Talabi was deported back to the UK, where he was greeted at the airport by IFED officers and a warrant for his arrest.

Dave Gill, Head of Operations at Allianz Insurance, said:

“Allianz operates a policy of zero tolerance to fraud and we were shocked and appalled when we uncovered his actions which go against our values and policies. We’re very grateful to all the parties that have been involved in bringing this ex-employee to justice. This sends a strong message that insider fraud is fought with the same determination as insurance fraud.”

Manhattan District Attorney, Cy Vance, Jr, said:

“We applaud the City of London Police and its Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department for their dogged pursuit of accountability on behalf of the victims of this fraud. This resolution is the latest success in our transatlantic partnership with CoLP to bring perpetrators of white-collar crime affecting our cities to justice. I thank the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for their strong collaboration with our agencies in this endeavour.”

Homeland Security Investigations Attaché, Eric Feldman, said:

“By working closely with the City of London Police, we were able to locate and apprehend this individual in the United States for his crimes in the UK. Our strong partnership ensures that perpetrators in either country will be accountable for their crimes and will not avoid prosecution by fleeing.”

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
  • Feedback

Partners

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

Follow us on:

© Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.