One claim every two hours: Zurich detects record £109m of fraud
05 November 2026
Zurich uncovers record fraud levels as organised crime networks become more sophisticated
- Zurich uncovered a record £109.3 million of fraudulent insurance claims in the last 12 months, that’s one bogus claim every two hours1
- Connected AI and advanced analytics helped identify 860 fraudulent claims worth £17.9 million, accounting for around one in five fraud cases detected by volume
- Insurance fraud is a growing challenge, with the industry uncovering £1.34 billion2 of fraudulent claims during 2025, almost £3.7 million every day
- Fraudsters are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with Zurich identifying organised networks, ghost broking, crash-for-cash scams, fictitious accidents and the growing use of generative AI to create claim documents and evidence
- Advanced fraud detection is helping protect honest customers by exposing organised fraud and enabling genuine claims to be paid faster
Zurich UK detected £109.3 million worth of fraudulent insurance claims in the last year, with its connected AI and advanced analytics helping to identify £17.9 million worth.
In total, the insurer exposed 4,359 fraudulent claims across its casualty, motor and property portfolios. This was the highest ever level of fraud detection by both value and volume exposed by Zurich - with the number of fraudulent claims identified rising 22% from 3,562 in 2022 to 4,359 in the last year.
More fraud uncovered across major business lines
During the last 12-months, Zurich detected:
- £61.6 million of casualty fraud across 2,380 claims
- £28.1 million of motor fraud across 1,027 claims
- £19.6 million of property fraud across 951 claims
Joining the dots on organised fraud
Zurich has used connected analytics through Quantexa to identify organised motor scams, ghost broking, spurious credit-hire claims, fictitious liability claims, serial claimants and evolving crash-for-cash tactics. This is the first time an insurance provider has been able to connect every insurance claim together across multiple sources of data for one individual claimant.
Cases uncovered by the technology include links between multiple suspicious claims and a common accident location, claimants using aliases to conceal previous activity, and organised fraud involving professional enablers such as rogue solicitors and accident-management companies. The platform has also helped investigators identify people living in one part of the UK who were linked to suspected staged accidents hundreds of miles away.
Scott Clayton, Head of Claims Fraud at Zurich UK and Chair of IFB, said:
“Insurance fraud in the UK is becoming more sophisticated, more organised and increasingly technology-enabled. Criminal networks are constantly adapting their tactics, whether that's staged accidents, ghost broking, fabricated claims or the use of AI-generated evidence.
“The £109 million of fraud we've uncovered this year shows both the scale of the threat and the importance of staying ahead of it. Connected data is transforming the fight against fraud, helping us expose hidden relationships, identify organised networks and protect honest customers from footing the bill for criminal activity. The combination of advanced analytics, specialist investigators and human judgement is proving a powerful defence against a rapidly evolving threat.
“We’re the first insurer in the UK to use technology that brings together information from Companies House, Equifax, industry intelligence and the Insurance Fraud Register to give us a much richer picture across every claim. That helps us identify crucial connections and information that might otherwise be difficult to spot.”
Protecting honest customers
Real-time analytics also help Zurich distinguish more quickly between suspicious activity and genuine claims. Where checks indicate that a claim presents a low fraud risk, claims teams can progress it more quickly and confidently, reducing unnecessary friction for genuine customers.
Ursula Jallow, Executive Director of the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB), said:
"Insurance fraud is becoming increasingly sophisticated and AI-driven, making it vital that we continue to invest in the systems, controls and partnerships needed to protect businesses and consumers.
"Through the IFB's Connected to Protect strategy, we are harnessing technology, data and cross-sector collaboration to strengthen fraud detection, disrupt criminal activity and raise awareness of emerging threats.
"We encourage anyone with information about insurance fraud to report it through our free, confidential CheatLine."
Vishal Marria, Founder and CEO, Quantexa, said:
“With £1.34 billion of fraudulent claims uncovered across the industry in 2025, insurance fraud is a threat to the whole market. Organised fraud doesn’t stop at one insurer’s front door, so defences can’t either. Left unchecked, the cost lands on honest customers through higher premiums and slower service. A year in, it has been incredible to see how Zurich has evolved. This partnership shows what happens when claims are seen as one connected picture: networks come into view. Organised threats get stopped earlier and genuine claims move faster.”
The serial claimant
What appeared to be a routine workplace accident claim unravelled when connected analytics revealed significant debts, a history of suspicious whiplash claims and previous fraud markers. Further investigation uncovered multiple indicators of fraud that would not have been visible from the claim alone.
The crash-for-cash hotspot
Several claims that initially appeared unrelated were linked to the same accident location. By connecting data across multiple cases, investigators uncovered a wider pattern of suspicious activity and potential organised fraud.
The hidden identity
claimant attempted to conceal their previous claims history by using an alternative identity. Connected data analysis established their true identity, revealing a record of past suspicious claims.
The fraud network
Advanced analytics identified recurring links between claims involving known high-risk solicitors, accident management companies and other parties associated with suspected fraud. By connecting activity across multiple claims, investigators built a clearer picture of potential organised fraud networks.
The organised scam
Connected analytics helped expose emerging fraud trends, including increasingly sophisticated crash-for-cash scams and claims linked to individuals travelling significant distances to stage incidents. The intelligence helped uncover multiple related claims and supported wider fraud investigations.
Notes to editors
1 4,359 fraudulent claims detected over 12 months:
- 365 days × 24 hours = 8,760 hours
- 8,760 ÷ 4,359 claims = 2.01 hours per claim
2 Association of British Insurers