Three former
Allianz Insurance employees and the two brothers who approached them to leak over 700 pieces of confidential customer data have been sentenced for bribery offences.
According to the City of London Police, the three were paid more than £7,000 for the leaked information, which was then passed to claims management companies. The data pertained to customers who had been involved in collisions.
Graham Gibson, chief claims officer at Allianz Insurance, said: “We are extremely disappointed by the actions of these three individuals and we have worked in close cooperation with the Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED) during their investigations.”
The offenders received the following penalties:
Kayleigh Underhill
- 12-month imprisonment suspended for 18 months
- A rehabilitation order
- £1,050 compensation to be paid to Allianz Insurance
Andrew Clarke
- Eight-month imprisonment suspended for 18 months
- Community order
- £150 compensation to be paid to Allianz Insurance
Reace Bowen
- Eight-month imprisonment suspended for 18 months
- Community order
- £300 to be paid to Allianz Insurance
Sajaad Nawaz
- Four-month imprisonment suspended for 15 months
Shaiad Nawaz
- Six-month imprisonment suspended for 15 months
- 20 days of rehabilitation activity
The criminal activity was reported to Action Fraud in 2015 and was then referred to the IFED. In addition to their sentences, the three former Allianz Insurance employees were also ordered to pay court costs.
“Keeping our customers’ data safe from rogue claims management companies is a priority for Allianz and we will work closely with the police to help prosecute those involved in this type of activity,” added Gibson.
Detective Constable Daryl Fryatt, who led the case for the City of London Police’s IFED, noted: “It is a criminal offence to leak customer data and any employee who is considering doing this should think twice.”
He said Underhill, Clarke, and Bowen were all in a position of trust and now have a criminal record and will be unable to work in a range of industries.
Fryatt added: “Whilst the Nawaz brothers thought they could make easy money by selling on data, they have now found that it is not that easy and they too have been sentenced as a result of their involvement.”
The police official said the IFED will continue to work tirelessly with insurers to ensure that this type of criminality does not exist within the industry.
Related stories:
Insurance manager took bribe for confidential info
