Life Insurance Search

An expert in life insurance fraud has said that he fears financial pressures in 2008 could lead to UK policyholders staging copycat faked deaths in the manner of infamous canoe man John Darwin.

Norman Wise, once a detective but now a senior lecturer in fraud and financial crime at Teeside University, outlined his life insurance fraud concerns.

“The temptation is always in the way when wages are falling, prices are rising and people have less disposable income,” he said.

He added, “Fraud is an easy crime to commit and in terms of the Darwin case, it was driven by an extremely high level of debt.

“I am aware insurance companies have paid out in suspicious circumstances, and have been left with no choice but to settle a claim.”

However, he also said that the six-year prison sentences handed out to John Darwin and his wife Anne may make people think twice about committing life insurance fraud.

He commented, “I hope people see that as a deterrent. It won’t be easy and for Mr Darwin. As a former prison officer, it will be particularly unpleasant.”