Couple Sentenced For Insurance Fraud
An Insurance Fraud Enforcement Bureau (IFED) investigation has discovered that a couple have been submitting fake claims for their stolen valuables. The two fraudsters have been sentenced at Bury Magistrates' Court today for attempting to submit fraudulent claims to Legal & General and RSA in relation to stolen valuables.
The couple pleaded guilty on two accounts of fraud by false representation on the 23rd January after an investigation by the IFED. Mrs Guilfoyle made a fraudulent £2,228 insurance claim to RSA for her Tad Baker handbag and its contents including case, perfume and two Samsung tablets. She claimed the handbag was taken from the boot of her car in February last year.
The RSA performed checks, showing that she made a very similar claim to Legal & General in 2013 which awarded her with a pay-out of £4,892. The story was almost identical apart from her handbag being stolen in Blackpool and it contained different items. The RSA were told that the £700 cash in her bag was going to be used to pay rent but investigations showed that they paid for their rent electronically.
IFED's detective constable Katie Sibley said: "Longden and Guilfoyle's twice concocted stories about how they have fallen victim to handbag thefts. On the first occasion they got away with it but the second time their fabricated insurance claim fell apart under scrutiny from the RSA. This case highlights once again how IFED take small-time insurance scams just as seriously as major frauds run by organised crime groups. The message from us is that if you submit bogus claims, big or small, do not be surprised if one day we come calling for you."
James Savery, 27 February 2015