The latest industrial scale fraud case report from IFED for you. Thirty attempts, some of which were successful. Cretu is a Romanian origin surname by the way. Here’s the word;
A man who fraudulently claimed more than £31,000 from multiple insurers by repeatedly reporting dogs as dead has been convicted following an investigation by the City of London Police’s Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED).
Robert Daniel Cretu, 40 from Liverpool was found guilty of fraud by false representation in connection with 30 separate fraudulent pet insurance claims submitted to a number of insurers.
The investigation revealed that Cretu repeatedly took out pet insurance policies before submitting fabricated claims alleging the insured dogs had died. In more than 30 cases, he used almost identical circumstances, claiming the dog had been startled while out on a walk, slipped its lead, run into the road and been fatally struck by a vehicle. In other claims, he alleged the dog had chased a seagull from a pier, fallen into the sea and later washed up on a beach. Investigators uncovered a range of falsified documents used to support the claims, including fake veterinary records, altered pet medical histories, cremation paperwork and fabricated bank statements.
The insurance specialists affected included Allianz, Markerstudy Retail, Admiral and Pinnacle.
Cretu pleaded guilty to five charges, which related to 30 separate fraudulent claims. He was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court to 20 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months. The court heard that while Cretu successfully obtained more than £31,000 through his fraudulent activity, the total value of attempted fraud was significantly higher.
Detective Chief Inspector Nik Jethwa, from the City of London Police’s Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED), said:
“Cretu took advantage of multiple insurers for financial gain at a time that is often distressing for people who have lost a pet. He exploited the system for his own benefit but has ultimately paid the price for his actions. IFED will continue to pursue criminals who seek to abuse the insurance system for personal profit.”
Jon Radford, Head of Intelligence, Investigations & Data Services at the Insurance Fraud Bureau, said:
“By using records from his own living pet to create fictional dogs and submit bogus death claims, Cretu cynically exploited pet insurance designed to support owners during some of their most difficult moments.
“Insurance fraud isn’t a victimless crime. It drives up costs for honest customers and undermines a system people depend on for support. We’d like to thank the insurers who collaborated with us to gather evidence and share it with the police, to secure justice against this fraudster. Anyone with information about insurance fraud can report it through our confidential CheatLine.”
Tabatha Ingleson, Fraud Risk and Claims Manager at Markerstudy said:
“This outcome is a fantastic result highlighting the importance of cross-industry collaboration in tackling fraud. By sharing intelligence and working closely with investigators and law enforcement, we can help protect honest customers and maintain trust in the pet insurance industry.”
Kat Perry, Counter Fraud Manager at Animal Friends Insurance said:
“Cases such as this demonstrate why collaboration across the insurance industry is so important in tackling fraud. What initially appeared to be individual claims formed part of a much wider pattern of activity and, by sharing intelligence and working closely with industry partners and IFED, insurers were able to support an investigation that led to this outcome.
“As the lead insurer, Animal Friends worked alongside the Insurance Fraud Bureau, IFED and fellow insurers to help identify connections between claims and build a clearer picture of the activity involved. This case highlights the value of organisations working together, sharing information, and taking a collective approach to tackling fraud.
“Insurance fraud can ultimately affect honest customers, which is why it’s important that the industry continues to work together to identify suspicious activity and help protect the integrity of the insurance industry”
Lorraine Nash, Strategic Relationship Manager – who oversees Counter Fraud at Admiral Pet Insurance, said:
“Pet insurance exists to provide valuable support and peace of mind when the unexpected happens. As one of the insurers affected, Admiral Pet worked closely with industry partners, the Insurance Fraud Bureau and law enforcement agencies throughout this investigation, helping to identify and evidence the fraudulent activity that led to this conviction. Protecting genuine customers and maintaining trust in pet insurance are priorities for Admiral Pet. This outcome highlights the strength of industry collaboration and serves as a reminder that insurance fraud can be identified, is taken seriously, and may have significant consequences.”
Matt Crabtree, Head of Financial Crime Intelligence & Investigations at Allianz UK said:
“This outcome sends a clear message that we will take action against fraud. Working alongside industry partners through the Insurance Fraud Bureau’s Pet Insurance Working Group, we helped support an investigation that has resulted in a successful prosecution. Collaboration like this is vital in tackling organised fraud, to help protect our honest customers.”
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