A Bradford man has received a suspended prison sentence after falsely claiming he was involved in a car accident in the United States and attempting to claim nearly £60,000 from his insurer.
Jack Higgins, 38, of Brook Street, submitted a claim stating he had rented a Range Rover while on holiday in California in early 2019. He alleged the vehicle was damaged after he swerved to avoid an animal on Interstate 110. Based on the claim, the insurer paid out £59,987.
However, an investigation revealed that Higgins had not travelled outside the UK at the time of the reported incident. The car hire company named in the claim, All Star Car Rental, was found to be fictitious.
At Leeds Crown Court, Higgins pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by false representation on 4 March 2025. The court sentenced him in April to two years in prison, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to repay the full £59,987, complete 300 hours of unpaid work, and pay £6,000 in investigative costs to the Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED).
According to IFED’s Detective Constable Stuart Osbourne, Higgins believed he could exploit the claims process for financial gain. Osbourne said the cost of fraudulent claims contributes to higher premiums for policyholders.
In support of his claim, Higgins submitted multiple falsified documents, including a forged police report purporting to be from the Los Angeles Police Department, a fraudulent SR-1 collision form, and altered bank statements. He also provided images of a damaged Range Rover, later traced to a listing on a vehicle auction website.
Voice recordings of phone calls made to the insurer were later examined by forensic specialists. Higgins initially denied making the calls and suggested the use of deepfake technology. However, voice analysis confirmed the recordings matched his voice, and no evidence of synthetic audio manipulation was found.
A search of Higgins’ home also uncovered a laptop containing files linked to the fabricated documents. The investigation was prompted by a tip-off to the insurer in August 2019, from an individual who reported that Higgins had not travelled abroad during the time he claimed to be in California. This led to an internal review, which confirmed no travel records existed for Higgins entering the United States, prompting a referral to IFED.
Osbourne said the case hinged on the weight of evidence proving Higgins had fabricated his story. He noted that the collaborative work between investigators and forensic experts was instrumental in disproving the claim.
Higgins now faces a criminal record and financial penalties. Osbourne added that IFED and the insurance sector continue to pursue fraudulent claims, regardless of where the incident is alleged to have occurred.
Cases like Higgins’ is not rare – in fact, it is a continually growing issue in the UK. In 2023, the industry detected fraudulent claims totalling £1.1 billion, marking a 4% increase from the previous year. Insurers identified 84,400 fraudulent claims, up by 11,800 cases compared to 2022, with an average claim value of £13,000.
Motor insurance fraud remained predominant, accounting for 45,800 cases valued at £501 million, representing 54% of all fraudulent claims and an 8% rise from 2022. Property insurance fraud also saw a 16% increase, with 16,700 cases amounting to £143 million.
What are your thoughts on this story? Please feel free to share your comments below.
