Newsfile: UK Insurance Fraud Round-Up

Just a quick round up of some interesting insurance fraud attempts, or actual convictions, that we have spotted recently.

BIRMINGHAM

West Midlands Police told the local Birmingham Mail website that they had made an arrest recently, after a spate of crash-for-cash staged accidents in the Midlands. The area is well known for such fraud and the incidents are believed to have taken place in 2018 ans 2019. Some insurance payouts have been made, so resumably there is more evidence to emerge, assuming anyone is charged in court.

PRESTON

Syed Bhukari, who previously faked his own death to try and claim £1m on a life insurance policy, was recently in court after an assets and proceeds of crime check.

Bukhari was convicted earlier this year, of another complex fraud, involving the illegal sale of an elderly couple’s house and obtaining money by gaining control of the couple’s bank accounts. This was fairly easy as the couple had dementia.

The most disturbing aspect of the case is that despite concerns by bank staff, and the freezing of the couple’s accounts by bank staff, Bhukari was able to unlock the cash by pressurising the older lady and thereby gaining her consent for `investment’ funds to be transferred, according to press reports.

Bhukari spent most of the cash on jewellery, watches, trips to Pakistan and Dubai – plus a wig fitting. However he does have assets in the UK of just over £300,000, so if he does not pay up over 300K, then he is facing another three years in prison.

NEWPORT WALES

Laurie Keating was driving his Mercedes CLS last year when he was involved in a crash. He drive off and subsequently tried to claim from LV on his car insurance, telling LV that his vehicle had been stolen. LV were a bit suspicious and as an investigation proceeded, Keating dropped his claim.

Local media reports that he was convicted of perverting the course of justice, plus attempted fraud, recently and was given a jail sentence – suspended of course – despite previous convictions for harrassment, drink driving and driving whilst disqualified.

PRESTIGE MOTOR CAR THEFT GANG GET PORRIDGE

Seven members of a car theft and international smuggling gang are in the process of being convicted and sentenced in London.

The trials have been delayed by Covid-19, but the East London Advertiser reports that three of the gang were sentenced recently. Yes, there’s more to come. The gang pinched £5 million worth of high end, prestige motors, and some were then shipped abroad to Northern Cyprus, the well known retreat of the jet-setting international mobster, who likes to avoid inconvenient extradition.

Trackers were deactivated from stolen Mercs, Range Rovers and Audis, plates were changed and sometimes false insurance claims were made too. Busy boys indeed, but now looking at a few years behind bars.