How to spot and report insurer scam calls
Fraudsters impersonating insurance companies are on the rise. Learn how to identify fake calls, what information you should never give out, and how to report insurance fraud to the right authority.
Why insurance scam calls are increasing
Insurance scam calls have increased significantly over recent years, driven by the widespread availability of cheap automated dialling technology and the ease with which fraudsters can spoof phone numbers to display a legitimate insurer's name or number on your screen.
The ABI Insurance Fraud Bureau reported that insurance fraud costs the UK industry over £1 billion annually, a significant portion of which is driven by organised impersonation scams. In the US, the Insurance Information Institute estimates insurance fraud costs the industry more than $40 billion per year — a cost ultimately passed on through higher premiums for all policyholders.
The most common insurance scam call types
A caller claims your policy is due to expire and demands immediate payment by card or bank transfer to renew. They may use your real name and approximate renewal date (obtained from public sources or data breaches) to seem credible.
A caller claims to be a claims handler or legal firm, saying you are entitled to compensation for an accident. They ask for personal and policy details, which they then use to file false claims or sell to other fraudsters. This is sometimes called "cold calling for claims."
A caller pretending to be a regulator or your insurer's security team says there has been suspicious activity on your policy and asks you to "verify" your details — including your full policy number, bank details, or password.
A caller tells you that you are owed a premium refund and needs your bank details to process it. Instead, they use the details to withdraw money from your account.
Red flags: signs a call is a scam
- The caller pressures you to make a payment or decision immediately
- They ask for full card numbers, bank account details, or online passwords
- They ask you to confirm personal details before telling you why they are calling
- They cannot confirm your insurer's registered address or FCA/state reference number when asked
- The call is unexpected and they claim you have an outstanding or expiring policy you are not aware of
- They ask you to transfer money to a "secure account" for any reason
- The caller becomes aggressive or threatening if you hesitate
What to do if you receive a suspicious call
How to protect yourself going forward
- Register with your national telephone preference service to reduce unsolicited calls
- Never share login details, passwords, or one-time passcodes over the phone
- Keep your policy documents and insurer contact details somewhere accessible so you can verify quickly
- Review our guide to how insurance works to understand what real insurers do and don't do
- Check your insurer's regulatory status on the FCA register (UK) or your state department of insurance (US)
Scam calls FAQ
Frequently asked questions
- Act immediately: contact your real insurer's fraud team using the number on your policy documents (not one you were given by the caller), notify your bank if any payment or card details were shared, and report the incident to Action Fraud (UK) or the FTC's fraud reporting portal (US). Speed matters — the sooner you act, the better chance you have of limiting the damage.
- Yes. Fraudsters sometimes obtain partial policy data through data breaches or by purchasing personal data. The fact that a caller knows your name, address, or even a policy number does not confirm they represent your insurer. Real insurers will never ask for full payment card numbers, bank account details, or policy access passwords over an unsolicited call.
- Hang up and call back using the number printed on your policy documents or the insurer's official website. Do not redial the number the caller gave you and do not call back immediately — some fraudsters keep the line open. Wait several minutes, or use a different phone.
- UK: Action Fraud and the ABI Insurance Fraud Bureau. US: FTC and your state insurance department via the NAIC directory. Australia: AFCA and Scamwatch (ACCC).