Fraud on the rise but fraudsters facing the consequences

Aviva has stopped over 6,000 fraudulent insurance claims in the first half of 2025, amounting to over £60 million. This equates to more than £334,000 a day in prevented fraud.

Whilst fraud attempts are increasing, so are the consequences. Prison sentences resulting from fraudulent insurance claims detected by Aviva in 2025 have surpassed a cumulative total of 32 years (custodial and suspended sentences), already 9 years higher than the total handed down in all of 2024.

Aviva is committed to safeguarding its customers from the harmful effects of fraud, backed by a robust defence and deterrence strategy. The insurer’s continued investment in fraud detection helps protect customers from the consequences of fraud and reduces pressure on premiums.

Common types of claims fraud

Aviva’s counter fraud team have protected customers from a wide range of scams so far this year, from traditional crash for cash scams to more inventive attempts. 

Crash for cash: This scam, where fraudsters deliberately stage or induce a motor collision, is a unique form of fraud which puts innocent victims at risk of physical harm. One instance of crash for cash that Aviva detected dramatically highlights the wilful recklessness involved in the latest twist of this scam, involving a moped driver who slowly but purposefully collides with an Aviva customer’s car, which was stationary. Their claim was withdrawn once the dashcam footage from Aviva’s customer was shared. 

Dodgy documents: One fraudster was caught out when they attempted to make a claim using a photoshopped document which they dated 31 November – a date that doesn’t exist.  

Rip-off pictures: Another individual attempted to claim for a damaged phone and watch, supporting the claim with photographic “evidence” that was copied from photos found online. Aviva is alive to this type of scam and routine checks quickly exposed the fraud.

Story slip up: A customer claimed they suffered life-changing injuries after slipping in a puddle. Suspicions were raised when they appeared on a reality TV show, and further enquiries revealed an ongoing active lifestyle. Evidence showing them lifting, twisting, crouching – and even riding rollercoasters - stopped the fraudster receiving a possible £350,000. 

Electronic evidence: A motorist claimed their vehicle was damaged after a collision with another vehicle and a skip in a car park. However, there were no photos of the skip, no details of the third party, and one of the damaged parts had been removed before an engineer could inspect it. Confusingly, the airbags were deployed but deflated, with the customer claiming they cut them with a knife straight after the incident. A check with a previous insurer confirmed suspicions, showing the vehicle as previously written off in 2023. Aviva ordered an interrogation of the vehicles Electronic Control Unit, which exposed the truth – the vehicle’s airbags had gone off in 2023, and never since. The data also showed that parts of the car had been dismantled ahead of the engineers visit, proving that this claim was nothing more than a fraudster trying their luck.

Pete Ward, Head of Claims Counter Fraud at Aviva, said: “As our latest figures show, we continue to detect large volumes of opportunistic and organised claims fraud. The increase in detected fraud reflects our commitment to protecting honest customers from the physical, emotional, and financial consequences of fraud. This includes defending customers from exaggerated and fraudulent claims and deterring would-be fraudsters from targeting Aviva. Insurance fraud isn’t a victimless crime, and we are committed to tackling it.” 

“Whilst some fraudsters are clearly more sophisticated than others, the wide range of claims fraud we have seen so far this year shows how important it is that we continue to investigate any claims that ring alarm bells.” 

“It is really encouraging to see that our continued investment in our fraud detection capabilities is leading to more fraudsters being caught out. If you commit fraud, you are increasingly likely to be caught and will have to face the consequences. We will continue to work with the industry and law enforcement to stop innocent customers being affected by the illegal actions of fraudsters.” 

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Enquiries:

Erik Nelson: erik.nelson@aviva.com; 07989 427086

Beth Meyer: beth.meyer@aviva.com; 07350 398996