Bolton-based Sam William Carr, who pleaded guilty in January to 10 counts of fraud by false representation after making bogus travel insurance claims worth around £75,000, has been handed a suspended jail sentence.
Utilising multiple aliases and exploiting the identities of friends and family, Carr claimed for non-existent losses such as luggage and cash while travelling. His fraudulent activities spanned 13 insurance policies across five different companies.
This week, the Royal Courts of Justice sentenced the fraudster to 20 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years. Carr is also mandated to undertake 200 hours of unpaid work and participate in a 30-day rehabilitation programme.
Detective Constable Vincent Baughan of the City of London Police’s Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED) commented on the outcome, emphasizing the purpose of travel insurance as a safeguard rather than an opportunity for financial exploitation.
“Travel insurance is intended to be a reassuring safety net should the worst happen, not a means of personal financial gain,” he said.
Baughan highlighted Carr’s disregard for the implications of his crimes on innocent individuals and lauded the efforts that led to the fraudster’s apprehension. The case initially came to the attention of the IFED in 2020 following a referral from LV= General Insurance.
“Let this be a warning to anyone thinking of making bogus claims on insurance: no matter how many actions are taken to try to cover up your tracks, fraudulent activity will be picked up,” Baughan added.
Representatives from LV= General Insurance and Aviva praised the “fantastic result,” underscoring the importance of industry collaboration and intelligence sharing in combatting fraud.
“Sam Carr’s attempt to defraud a number of travel insurers was as brazen as it was foolish because this case perfectly highlights the capability which exists within the industry,” stated Aviva’s special investigations unit manager Carl Mather.
What do you think about this story? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
