Suspects arrested after alleged fake death, multiple false transport claims and forged medical documents

The City of London Police’s Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED) has carried out a nationwide enforcement period targeting travel insurance fraud.

Officers executed warrants across the country, conducting house searches and interviews. The team also made arrests as part of an operation to identify and disrupt opportunistic fraudsters seeking to exploit the insurance system with dishonest travel claims.

The activity resulted in three arrests, four voluntary interviews, two cease and desist notices and . All arrests were followed by interviews under caution.

Detective Sergeant Oliver Gent, from IFED at the City of London Police, said:

“Our work is to protect honest policyholders and the insurance industry. This intensification has produced a strong set of results and demonstrated that those who attempt travel insurance fraud will be investigated and held to account.

“Before you travel, check your cover and always claim honestly, because fraudulent claims will be detected.”

Among the outcomes of the intensification were three settled claims totalling £22,000. In this case a suspect alleged multiple bereavements to justify repeated holiday cancellations. Following an interview, the suspect made a full confession and has agreed to repay the insurers in full.

Officers also arrested a 24-year-old man from Birmingham on suspicion of fraud by false representation after he allegedly faked his own death to support an insurance claim, claiming to have drowned while travelling in Nigeria.

Another arrest involved a 34-year-old woman from Hertfordshire, who was arrested on suspicion of fraud by false representation, after allegedly submitting 37 claims for missed or delayed transport that are now suspected to be fraudulent.

A further result from the operation saw a defendant plead guilty to fraud by false representation in relation to a travel insurance claim, supported by fabricated Caribbean medical treatment documents, and to money laundering. The sentencing is now scheduled for 23 June 2026 at Inner London Crown Court.

Over the past five years, IFED has received 102 referrals for travel insurance fraud. The insurer-estimated value of these frauds totalled £4,404,334.42, averaging of £44,942.19 per case.