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ScamEncyclopedia
High risk

Insurance Scams

Insurance scams sell cover that doesn't exist or won't pay — and some, like fake health insurance or 'ghost broker' auto policies, leave you uninsured exactly when you need protection most. Others impersonate insurers to harvest details or demand bogus claim 'fees'. Always confirm an insurer is authorised on your country's financial regulator register, buy only from recognised providers, and be wary of cover priced far below the market.

24 scam types in Insurance Scams

Fake Health Insurance Scams

Critical risk

Fraudulent policies that look like comprehensive health cover but pay out nothing — or far less than promised — when you need care.

Ghost Broker Auto Insurance Scams

Critical risk

Fraudsters who sell cheap car insurance policies that are forged, cancelled after purchase, or taken out in your name with false details — leaving you uninsured and potentially liable.

Fake Life Insurance Scams

High risk

Fraudsters collect life insurance premiums for policies that have never been issued, are unregulated, or will deny every claim through hidden exclusions.

Fake Insurance Claims Settlement Scams

High risk

Fraudsters pose as insurers or claims handlers, offering fast settlements in exchange for upfront fees or personal details — then vanish.

Fake Travel Medical Insurance Scams

High risk

Bogus travel insurance policies that look comprehensive but exclude the medical events most likely to occur, or are sold by unregulated operators with no claims-paying ability.

Warranty and Insurance Renewal Scams

Medium risk

Unsolicited calls and letters claiming your warranty or insurance is about to expire — pressuring you into paying for a renewal or product you do not need.

Fake Pet Insurance Scams

Medium risk

Fraudulent or near-worthless pet insurance policies that collect premiums but deny almost every vet claim through hidden exclusions or outright non-existence.

Disaster Insurance Scams

Critical risk

Fraudsters who target people after floods, fires, or storms — posing as insurers, public adjusters, or contractors to steal claim payouts or personal data.

Fake Car Insurance Broker Scam

Critical risk

Unregulated 'brokers' who sell fabricated, voided, or cancelled motor insurance policies — leaving drivers unknowingly uninsured at serious legal and financial risk.

Fake Health Plan and Membership Scheme Scam

Critical risk

Unregulated 'health benefit' memberships sold as insurance that have no obligation to pay claims — leaving members unprotected when they need care.

Fake Extended Warranty and Product Insurance Scam

High risk

Unsolicited offers of extended warranties or product protection that take regular premiums but deny every claim through narrow exclusions or fabricated policy documents.

Fake Travel Insurance Policy Scam

High risk

Fraudsters sell travel insurance policies that look genuine but provide no real cover, leaving travellers stranded with unpaid medical bills or lost trip costs.

Fake Pet Insurance Policy Scam

High risk

Bogus pet insurance policies that collect monthly premiums but deny every claim through hidden exclusions or by never existing at all.

Crop and Farm Insurance Fraud Scam

High risk

Fraudsters pose as agricultural insurance agents to collect premiums for farming cover that is never placed with a real insurer, or manipulate farmers into policies with exclusions that make every claim ineligible.

Crash-for-Cash Staged Accident Scams

High risk

Organised fraudsters deliberately cause road collisions or fabricate accidents to make exaggerated or entirely false insurance claims — raising premiums for all honest drivers.

Insurance Premium Diversion Scams

Critical risk

Fraudulent or rogue brokers collect insurance premiums from clients but never pass them to the insurer — leaving clients uninsured while believing they are covered.

Claim Reprocessing Fee Scams

High risk

Fraudsters charge upfront fees to resubmit, reprocess, or escalate an insurance or benefits claim — then disappear without delivering any service.

Disability Benefit Fraud Scams

High risk

Fraudsters charge vulnerable disabled individuals fees for government benefit applications, make false promises about entitlement, or commit identity fraud using their personal details.

Fake Renters Insurance Scam

Medium risk

Fraudulent or non-existent renters insurance policies sold to tenants — often bundled into the leasing process — that pay nothing when belongings are stolen, damaged, or destroyed.

Fake Business Liability Insurance Scam

High risk

Small business owners are sold liability policies that appear to meet client or contract requirements but are unlicensed, fabricated, or worthless when a claim is made.

Fake Dental & Vision Plan Scam

Medium risk

Discount 'dental and vision plans' sold as insurance that turn out to be unregulated discount cards or non-existent cover, leaving members to pay full price at the point of treatment.

Fake Gadget & Device Insurance Scam

Medium risk

Phone, laptop, and electronics protection plans sold at checkout or online that collect monthly premiums but deny or ignore claims when a device is lost, stolen, or damaged.

Insurance Reinstatement Fee Scam

High risk

Scammers pose as an insurer or agent claiming a policy has lapsed and demand an urgent 'reinstatement fee' to restore coverage, pressuring victims to pay quickly through hard-to-trace methods.

Fake Medicare Supplement Plan Scam

Critical risk

Scammers sell bogus Medigap or Medicare Advantage-style supplement plans to older adults, collecting premiums for coverage that is never real or does not exist at all.