The latest case from the IFED;
A man has been sentenced for orchestrating a sophisticated insurance fraud involving high-value classic cars, including two 1990 Ford Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworths and a 1976 Mk2 Ford Escort RS2000.
Danny Phipps, 32, of The Paddock, Tonbridge, was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court to 23 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 24 months, for multiple offences involving fraudulent claims made against Aviva and RSA over a 13-month period. Alongside the suspended sentence, the court set a confiscation timetable for Phipps to repay the money obtained through the fraud.
The offences connected to Aviva centred around six separate claims submitted between February 2019 and March 2020, in which Phipps insured classic vehicles he described as being in immaculate condition. Shortly after the policies were activated, he reported the vehicles stolen and lodged substantial claims.
Detective Chief Inspector Nik Jethwa, from the City of London Police’s Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED), said:
“Driven purely by greed, Mr Phipps deliberately targeted high-value vehicles to create the illusion of genuine thefts. Thanks to the diligence of our team and the close cooperation from both Aviva and RSA, we were able to expose the pattern and bring this matter to justice.
“This outcome is a testament to the hard work and determination of a wide range of professionals—officers, forensic accountants, insurance investigators and legal experts—whose coordinated efforts were essential in securing this conviction.
“We’d like to sincerely thank everyone who contributed to this investigation. Insurance fraud is not a harmless crime—it affects honest policyholders and puts strain on valuable public and industry resources.”
Carl Mather, Special Investigations Unit Manager, Aviva, said:
“The audacity of Danny Phipps’ repeated attempts to defraud insurers reveals a brazen disregard for the law and is as shocking as it is disturbing. Aviva was the first to detect Phipps’s bogus claims, along with the associated fake and tampered documents he used to support them.
“We then worked closely with the City of London Police, the Insurance Fraud Bureau, and other insurers to uncover the full extent of the scam. We have a duty to protect our customers from the harmful effects of fraud, which is why Aviva continues to invest in market-leading fraud detection capabilities.”
John Davies, Intelligence and Investigations Manager at the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB), said:
“In collaboration with Aviva, RSA, and IFED, we uncovered that Danny Phipps was behind a network of fraudulent activity, which included using false bank statements, images and identity documents to facilitate bogus claims worth thousands.
“Unsurprisingly, his elaborate attempts to defraud the industry backfired, and justice has been served.
“Insurance fraud isn’t a victimless crime – it drives up premiums for everyone. With our police and industry partners, we’re committed to protecting the public from its devastating impact. We encourage anyone with evidence of an insurance scam to report it to our confidential CheatLine.”
Among the vehicles allegedly stolen was a Ford Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth, added to a multi-vehicle policy in January 2019. Just weeks later, on 11 February 2019, Phipps claimed the car had been stolen in Chatham, Kent. He submitted documentation indicating a purchase price of £15,000, prompting Aviva to issue a payout of £14,150 after excess deductions. This led to a full forensic review of information, including Metro Bank statements, presented in support of the first claim and confirmation the documents were falsified.
In a similar claim on 4 September 2019, Phipps reported the theft of a second Ford Sierra RS Cosworth from London. He asserted the vehicle had been bought for £20,000 via bank transfer just weeks prior and provided images, financial records, and ownership documents to support his case. Aviva’s investigation uncovered discrepancies in the submitted materials, including misleading representations of the purchase transaction and a lack of genuine supporting evidence.
The cases against Phipps were subsequently referred to IFED who then began to investigate where, during interview, Phipps answered no comment to all questions put to him.
In addition to vehicle-related claims, Phipps also attempted to defraud Aviva through a business equipment policy covering construction tools and machinery. On 21 October 2019, he reported the theft of an iTALMEK IC1.8 steel-cutting shear from his Citroen Berlingo van, along with minor items he opted not to claim for. To substantiate the loss, Phipps submitted documents including an invoice for £17,412 and images of van damage.
Crucially, the bank statement he provided to show proof of purchase was later found to be fraudulently altered, continuing a familiar pattern across multiple claims. This attempt to exploit business equipment coverage mirrored his strategy used in the classic car claims and added to the weight of evidence against him.
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