Over £400,000 in payouts until 2050 – that’s what convicted insurance fraudster Richard Moore would have got away with had his “audacious scam” not been caught by Aviva.
Moore, who took out an income protection policy with Aviva in 2008, started claiming disability benefits in 2013 after he stopped working supposedly because of depression and anxiety. The policyholder resumed employment a year later without informing his insurer, and also lied during a health review by Aviva in 2017.
A subsequent internal probe showed that Moore was indeed able to work, contrary to his claims – leading Aviva to refer the case to the City of London Police’s Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED) for a criminal investigation.
In February he pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by false representation and this week was sentenced to 14 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, at Manchester Crown Court. The 33-year-old was also handed 100 hours of community service and a 15-day rehabilitation course.
“Moore took full advantage of the financial support provided to him by his income protection insurance policy from Aviva,” said IFED’s Detective Constable Kevin Carter. “He worked multiple jobs across several years, without ever notifying his insurer, and was even brazen enough to take ownership of a hotel and pose for pictures with awards for the regional press.
“It’s clear that Moore had no intention of stopping, and would’ve gone on to fraudulently claim an even greater sum of money, if not for the Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department’s joint investigation with Aviva, which exposed his lies and ensured he was brought to justice.”
The insured was able to claim a total of £46,326 in benefit payments, £34,483 of which was paid to him while he was working and therefore should not have been received. Moore would have fraudulently benefited to the sum of £413,000 had the payments continued as scheduled until 2050.
“We are pleased with today’s sentencing, which highlights the severity of Mr Moore’s actions in deceiving Aviva in an attempt to claim more than £400,000,” commented Aviva’s Jacqueline Kerwood, governance and philosophy manager for individual protection claims, in a statement yesterday.
“Aviva soon realised Mr Moore had not been forthcoming with his various jobs, and our investigation and referral to IFED brought an end to his audacious scam. Today’s sentencing makes the point that insurance fraud is a crime and if you commit insurance fraud, it is very likely you will be caught and prosecuted – as Mr Moore has learned the hard way.”
