10 years of fighting insurance fraud: IFED across the globe

Over the years, IFED has not only investigated fraud up and down the country, but also across the globe. Officers have uncovered international connections to cases with roots in the UK, leading to the unit working with a number of international agencies.

IFED has also garnered international interest, leading to invitations from law enforcement and insurance industries abroad to present on the unit and the work it does.

Kampala, Uganda

DS Barry Murray and DC Tom Hill travelled to Kampala, Uganda, in 2014 to investigate a mysterious life insurance fraud case (see IFED Convictions). Working with local law enforcement, officers interviewed those who had been reported as witnesses to the death, who helped to prove that the claims were fictitious.   

IFED officers at Interpol Headquarters in Uganda

Las Vegas, USA

FI Simon Styles travelled to Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2016 as part of an investigation into a British expat who pretended that her mother was still alive in order to collect her pension and annuity payments. While carrying out enquiries, officers discovered that the doctor’s signature on the mother’s life certificate was fake, and that the stamp was also not genuine.

 

Melbourne, Australia

DCI Oliver Little presented twice during the 2017 Australian Vehicle Crime Conference in Melbourne, Australia. DCI Little first looked at how IFED was established, discussing the hurdles faced and lessons learnt in the unit’s early years. The second presentation focused on motor-related insurance fraud, using a number of case studies to illustrate the lengths fraudsters will go to for financial gain.

 

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

DCI Andy Fyfe took part in The Malaysian Insurance Institute’s International Claims Convention 2018 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The theme of the convention was ‘Claims in a Changing World’, looking at new approaches to claims management. DCI Fyfe was one of 19 speakers to share his knowledge and expertise to 125 attendees.

MII International Claims Convention

Fredericia, Denmark

DCI Edelle Michaels and DI Tom Hill were invited to attend the 2021 Forsikring & Pension insurance conference in Fredericia, Denmark, to present an overview on the structure of IFED and selected case studies. The conference was attended by 200 investigators and managers from Danish insurance fraud companies and other stakeholders. 

Forsikring & Pension insurance conference

New York & Texas, USA

PSI Abdelkader Rezkallah worked with the New York District Attorney Office and US Homeland Security in 2021 to return a fugitive to the UK. The former claims assessor at an insurance company stolen nearly £70,000 from his employer through bogus claims made by fabricated customers. After admitting to the offences, the fraudster fled to the United States to avoid prosecution. He was eventually caught and arrested in Houston, Texas, after fleeing from Newark, New Jersey to escape immigration services.