Fake Travel Insurance
Bogus policies that take premiums for cover that doesn't exist or won't pay valid claims.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
What this scam is
Fake travel insurance scams sell policies that appear to provide genuine cover but are issued by unregistered, unauthorised, or entirely fictitious insurers. The buyer pays a premium, receives documents that look official, and believes they are protected — only to discover the truth when they attempt to make a claim or when the 'insurer' becomes unreachable.
Travel insurance is particularly vulnerable to this fraud because the product is inherently intangible. Unlike booking a flight or renting a car, you cannot immediately verify what you've received is real. The policy document looks the same whether it's genuine or not. This means the fraud can persist for weeks or months before any harm is apparent — often at the worst possible moment, such as a medical emergency abroad or a trip cancellation.
Some fake policies are sold as standalone products; others are bundled with fake travel bookings as an 'included extra', adding apparent value to a fraudulent package. Either way, the outcome for the traveller is the same: financial exposure without the safety net they thought they had.
How it works
Fake travel insurance reaches buyers through sponsored search ads, fake price comparison sites, email campaigns, and as bolt-ons to fraudulent travel booking packages. The products are positioned as excellent value — significantly cheaper than mainstream insurers — and the purchase process mimics a genuine insurance transaction.
After entering personal details and paying, the buyer receives an email with a policy document, a policy number, and what appear to be claims contact details. The document may reproduce the branding of a genuine insurer or invent a new brand name with a credible-sounding title.
When a claim is made — for a medical emergency, cancellation, or lost luggage — the claims line goes unanswered, the email address bounces, or the response is a flat denial based on vague policy exclusions. In some cases the 'insurer' has already closed down entirely. In others, the scam operates semi-persistently, collecting premiums while refusing or ignoring all claims.
Why this scam works
Travellers are price-sensitive when buying insurance because it feels like a product they hope never to use. A policy that is notably cheaper than competitors appeals directly to this mindset. The fact that the product is intangible means there is no immediate way to test whether it is real.
The timing of the fraud reinforces compliance. Insurance is typically bought close to the point of booking, when the buyer is already in a decision-making flow and not inclined to break off and verify a new provider's credentials. Bundled insurance — offered as part of a package deal — asks for no separate decision at all.
Regulatory registries exist and are publicly accessible, but most travellers do not know to check them, and the process of doing so takes a few minutes that feel unnecessary when the policy document looks convincing.
A typical pattern
A traveller purchases a travel insurance policy through a comparison-style website after finding a very low premium for comprehensive cover. They receive a policy document by email and feel reassured before their trip. During the holiday, a medical situation requires hospital treatment. When the traveller attempts to call the claims line, the number is disconnected. Emails receive no response. On returning home, the traveller discovers the named insurer does not appear on their country's financial regulator register.
Common red flags
- Insurer name cannot be found on your financial regulator's authorised firm register
- Premium significantly below what established insurers quote for the same cover
- Vague policy documents without a specific claims process or exclusions schedule
- Pressure to purchase bundled with another travel product
- Claims contact details that are only an email address with no phone number
- Policy sold with no questions asked about pre-existing conditions or trip cost
- No FCA, ASIC, or equivalent regulatory reference number on the documentation
Sanitized example messages
Illustrative, sanitized examples. Personal details are replaced with placeholders such as [phone number] and [fake link].
Full travel cover for just [amount]! Instant policy, no questions — buy now at [fake link].
Protect your trip for less. Our comprehensive policy covers medical, cancellation and baggage from [amount]. Instant cover. Buy at [fake link]
Your booking includes complimentary travel insurance from [fake insurer]. Your policy number is [reference]. Policy document attached.
Annual worldwide travel insurance — unlimited medical cover, no excess — from [amount]. Limited offer. [fake link]
Common variations
- Standalone fake insurer sites selling unusually cheap policies direct to consumers
- Fake price comparison sites listing fraudulent policies alongside genuine ones
- Insurance bundled 'free' with a fake travel booking to add apparent value
- Semi-legitimate looking policies that technically exist but contain exclusions that void virtually any claim
- Scammers using the name and branding of a genuine but dissolved insurer
How to verify before you act
Before buying travel insurance from any provider, check that the insurer is authorised on your country's financial services regulatory register. In the UK this is the FCA register; in the US the relevant state insurance regulator; in Australia ASIC. The check takes under two minutes and will confirm whether the entity is licensed to sell insurance in your jurisdiction.
Read the policy document before purchasing, specifically the exclusions and the claims process. A genuine policy will name a regulated entity, provide a clear claims procedure, and include policy wording that specifies what is and is not covered. Vague documents with generous headline cover but no specific claims procedure are a warning sign.
For bundled insurance included with a booking, check the named insurer independently regardless of whether you chose the cover.
Payment methods used
- Card
- Bank transfer
Who is usually targeted
- Travellers seeking cheap cover
- Last-minute bookers
- Travellers buying bundled packages
What to do immediately
- Check the insurer's name on your national financial regulator's register before acting on any policy
- If you have already paid, attempt to contact the insurer through multiple channels and document the results
- Contact your bank or card provider — if the insurer is fraudulent you may be able to recover the premium via chargeback
- Purchase a genuine replacement policy through an authorised insurer before travelling
- Report the fake insurer to your financial regulator and national fraud reporting service
How to prevent it
- Check the insurer's name on your country's financial regulator's authorised firms register before paying any premium (e.g. the FCA register in the UK)
- Be sceptical of premiums notably cheaper than mainstream insurers for the same level of cover
- Read the policy document before buying, checking for a named regulated entity, a clear claims process, and a specific exclusions schedule
- Independently verify any insurer bundled 'free' with a travel booking, even if you didn't actively choose it
- Avoid policies sold with 'no questions asked' about pre-existing conditions or trip cost — genuine insurers ask underwriting questions
- Look for claims contact details that include a phone number, not just an email address
- Buy through a well-known comparison service or directly from an established, regulated insurer
- Don't let bundling with a booking or purchase-flow momentum skip the step of checking the regulator's register
Evidence to preserve
- The policy document received (save as PDF)
- Payment receipt and bank records
- All correspondence with the insurer or seller
- Screenshots of the site where you purchased the policy
- Records of your attempts to contact the insurer
Where to report it
- Action Fraud (UK) — UK national fraud & cybercrime reporting centre
- FTC ReportFraud (US) — US Federal Trade Commission fraud reports
- FBI IC3 (US) — US Internet Crime Complaint Center
- Scamwatch (Australia) — Australian competition & consumer reporting
- Your bank's fraud line — Use the number on the back of your card or in your banking app — never a number the caller gives you
Always verify reporting routes and emergency contacts on the official government or agency website for your country.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check an insurer is genuine?
Confirm the insurer is authorised on your country's financial regulator register, and read the policy and claims process before buying. Be wary of unusually cheap cover sold with urgency.
What if the policy document looks completely official?
Policy documents can be forged or copied from genuine policies. The only reliable check is whether the named insurer appears on the financial regulator's authorised firms register — that cannot be faked.
Can I get my premium back if the insurer is fake?
Card payments may be recoverable via chargeback. Contact your card provider promptly and explain that the service sold was fraudulent. Also report to your financial regulator — they may have a consumer compensation fund for victims of unauthorised firms.
Is insurance bundled with a travel deal safe?
Not automatically. Always check the named insurer against your regulator's register. Bundled insurance with a fake booking is worthless regardless of what the policy document says.
What cover should I look for in legitimate travel insurance?
Look for medical expenses cover (including repatriation), trip cancellation, baggage and personal belongings, and personal liability. Read the exclusions carefully — legitimate policies are clear about what is not covered.
Are there price comparison sites that only show authorised insurers?
Established comparison sites in regulated markets are generally reliable. The safest approach is to use a well-known comparison service and verify your chosen insurer on the regulator's register before purchasing.