This is Kind of a Big Deal: Someone Was Jailed For Ghost Broking. Seriously

It is a rare event these days, as so many fraudsters get away with suspended sentences, but the Court has taken a position on this case. Here’s the word from the IFED on one of Luton’s finest;

A man has been jailed for illegally advertising his services as an insurance broker on Instagram, an act commonly known as ‘ghost broking’.

Touqir Nasir, 30, of Runley Road, Luton, also used false information to insure his own vehicles.

Following an investigation by the City of London Police’s Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED), Nasir pleaded guilty at Luton Crown Court on 4 March 2025 to ten counts of fraud by false representation and breaching the Financial Services and Markets Act.

He was sentenced at Luton Crown Court on 28 April 2025 to one year in prison.

Detective Sergeant Phil Corcoran, from the City of London Police’s Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED), said:

“The fact that Nasir advertised fake insurance, which could have left victims out of pocket and exposed to the risks of driving without valid cover, shows the greed of insurance criminals and the measures they will take to gain financially.

“Once the initial fraud came to light, our investigation uncovered evidence that Nasir also took out several insurance policies for himself using false information. He has now rightfully been punished for his crimes and the sentence handed down should serve as a reminder that there are severe repercussions for committing insurance fraud.”

The case was referred to IFED by the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB), after it linked Nasir to a number of Instagram accounts that were advertising cheap car insurance.

Nasir was not registered with the Financial Conduct Authority to operate as an insurance broker. Officers from IFED found that he also used false information to take out 10 temporary insurance policies for three vehicles that he used. Nasir was arrested in May 2020. His home address was searched and a mobile phone and desktop computer were seized. An examination of the devices showed that the phone seized was listed as a contact on the Instagram accounts. The computer had been used to access the accounts.

Around £16,000 in cash was seized from his address and has since been forfeited.

Nicola Smith, Intelligence and Investigations Manager at the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB), said:

“We’re pleased to see that this fraudster has faced justice for their unacceptable actions. Sales of fake car insurance have a serious impact on victims, as it leaves people out of pocket and risking serious criminal consequences for driving without valid insurance.

“We’re collaborating closely with the police and insurers to tackle this issue. If anyone sees a car insurance deal on social media that looks too-good-to-be-true, make sure to report it to our confidential CheatLine.”