International fraud networks seeing ‘crossover’ with UK insurance industry

Counter fraud experts are increasingly recognising the necessity of working with international colleagues to combat insurance fraud in the UK.

This was the conclusion reached by attendees to the latest Insurance Times Fraud Charter roundtable – held on 18 March 2026 and sponsored by law firm Carpenters Group – who discussed the increasing internationalisation of criminal groups responsible for fraud. 

Matt Crabtree, head of financial crime intelligence and investigations at Allianz, told the event: ”We are communicating with our German office because we are seeing known cash for crash vehicles from the UK being taken across to Germany. 

“We also have stolen ID cases that have been facilitating fraud here in the UK which have then facilitated false death claims over in our Australia office as well. 

“There’s definitely crossover with some of these gangs moving across borders, which creates some jurisdictional issues – and I see that being a continuing, increased risk.” 

International response

Nik Jethwa, Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (Ifed) detective chief inspector also attended the Fraud Charter roundtable and noted the importance of ensuring there was international collaboration in the fight against fraudsters. 

And while Ifed is limited to its jurisdiction of England and Wales, Jethwa said that proactive information sharing could help law enforcement in other countries crack down on fraudsters that were facilitating crimes in the UK. 

He explained: ”I have no jurisdiction outside of England and Wales, but what I do have is the ability to share information and intelligence rapidly for other law enforcement agencies, so that they can consider what they can do.

”With very little effort, we can have a bigger impact on building those relationships – sometimes just a simple phone call can have a significant effect.”

Through this form of information sharing, Jethwa added that Ifed had seen success in identifying other countries that were investigating organised crime networks that it was also investigating in England and Wales.

And, in another international development, the detective chief inspector said Ifed had developed a relationship with international police organisation Interpol, which, for the first time, recently included insurance fraud on its list of strategic threats.

Jethwa added: “That’s a massive win for us – we’ve now elevated insurance fraud to the whole of law enforcement across the globe.”