About IFIG

IFIG: Who are we?

Established in 1999,  IFIG – the Insurance Fraud Investigators Group – is a not-for-profit Specified Anti-Fraud Organisation (SAFO) as defined under the Serious Crime Act 2007. Group membership facilitates intelligence and knowledge sharing for all counter fraud professionals.  Our network largely work in, or with, the insurance sector.  We also welcome guest members, such as the police, HMRC, regulatory and other public bodies.

We focus on

  • Collaboration and intelligence sharing across all sectors, made unique by our diverse and inclusive membership
  • Investigation and networking
  • Complementing other counter fraud bodies and law enforcement
  • Knowledge sharing & Integrity

We provide

  • Online and live regional and national events, including presentations from fraud experts, training and networking opportunities.
  • An intelligence platform, developed and supported by Verisk, a leading data provider to the insurance industry.
  • Specified Anti-Fraud Organisation (SAFO) status which allows us to host intelligence from public bodies, including the police.
  • A recently relaunched website that offers single contact points for each member and will incorporate access to online training.

What’s in it for me and my Organisation?

You’re not alone. Fraudsters are not brand loyal and move from scam to scam. But IFIG members don’t just share intelligence, they can also develop effective tactics and strategies that may support your organisation.

Keeping informed. IFIG’s networking and support can help you keep abreast of the latest trends and emerging risks.  In turn, this can help you plan for the future.

Development. IFIG’s networking opportunities also help grow your and your team’s understanding of the fraud issues that face our industry. This can be supported by accredited counter fraud training, to add greater credibility to your counter fraud approach.

The Committee

Ami North - IFIG Chair

Ami North – Chair

Ami was appointed Chair of IFIG in January 2023 having joined the board in 2017. Ami has over 25 years of experience in both claims and underwriting specialising in counter fraud.

Ami is Head of Personal Injury and Fraud at Tesco Insurance and is responsible for managing and developing the Underwriting and Claims fraud propositions.

Ami is passionate about collaboration in the counter fraud community and a member of the General Insurance Fraud Committee

AMc B&W

Arlene McNaught – Treasurer, Finance & Membership

Arlene has worked at Broker Direct Plc since 2004 and holds the position of Senior Fraud Co-Ordinator. She holds a Masters degree in Fraud Management and has a real passion for her work.

Broker Direct recognised the importance of IFIG to the counter fraud community and supported Arlene when she joined in 2013 as Secretary. Following incorporation in 2017 she took on the responsibility of Treasurer.

Arlene is passionate about supporting the counter fraud community to come together to share intelligence, best practice and support the next generation of counter fraud investigators.

Pete

Peter Oakes – Secretary & DPO

Peter has been advising insurance and corporate clients on counter fraud and risk issues for over 20 years. He has dealt with complex and high value fraudulent claims across multiple product lines.

At the forefront of industry change, Peter is currently working with RTA and GAP insurers to improve data and intelligence sharing to prevent an emerging fraud trend currently costing RTA insurers millions in unidentified fraud leakage.

Formerly, head of fraud at Hill Dickinson, Peter led a team of over 200 counter fraud experts and continues to develop innovative data and AI driven solutions to fraud prevention and detection and is now responsible for the delivery of counter-fraud screening technology at Crawford UK.

Sarah Glenn IFIG

Sarah Glenn – Media and Communication Lead

Sarah has over 20 years of experience in the insurance industry. She is currently the Commercial Director for RGI Solutions, where she is responsible for forging strategic partnerships, producing, and implementing commercial plans, and optimising business operations for maximum profitability. She has a deep understanding of the insurance industry and the fraud landscape and is an expert in investigating and preventing fraud. She is also a skilled leader and problem solver and is passionate about driving commercial growth. Sarah has written extensively on fraud prevention. She is also a member of the Insurance Times Fraud Charter.

Sarah joined the board of IFIG in January 2024 and will be leading on media, communications and supporting with event management.

MB

Mike Brown – Deputy Chair & Intel Platform Lead

Mike is currently the Head of Fraud at Weightmans with responsibility for the management and development of the firm’s fraud offering.

He has a Masters’ Degree in Fraud Management, ICA Diploma in AML/TF and is a Fellow Member of the International Compliance Association.

He was previously an active Management Board Member of the Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department; a Member of the CIFAS Intelligence Advisory Board; the Head of Counter Fraud Intelligence with Direct Line Group; and the Head of the Confidential Fraud and Intelligence Unit with the SRA with responsibility for undertaking investigations into fraud/dishonest allegations within the legal profession.

Mike previously served as a police officer with Thames Valley Police at various levels primarily in investigations and intelligence including covert tactics.

Marj

Marj Murphy

With over 40 years’ experience in Life & General Insurance across many diverse roles, Marj has worked for Eagle Star, Zurich, Royal Insurance, Royal Liver and Medicash.

Medicash are currently the largest Corporate Cash Plan provider retailing Cash Plans to Brokers and Direct policyholders.

Marj is Head of Customer Operations, and leads a Team of 70 employees and is also Director of Operations for Health@work Consultancy that provides Health and Safety, Compliance and Wellbeing Training practices for Safe and Healthy workplaces. It also offers the nationally accredited Workplace Wellbeing Charter.

Marj is a Chartered Insurer FCII, Chartered Manager, FCmg, Msc and has been part of the HICFG (Health Insurer Counter Fraud Group) for over 12 years and previously sat on the Board representing Cash Plans.

SC

Simon Cook – Events Lead

Simon has worked in the insurance industry for 24 years, 18 years of which have been in the counter fraud space. He is currently Director of Investigations – UK for the global insurance services provider Charles Taylor where he has led their multi award winning Specialist Investigation Services business unit for 15 years. Simon is a subject matter expert in international investigations and has managed complex claims investigations in all 4 corners of the world. Simon is a thought leader on the insurance fraud topic and regularly contributes to media stories about insurance fraud.

Bev

Beverly Cook – Finance & Membership

Beverly has been working in the insurance industry for over 30 years and for the last 15 year she has been the Managing Director of Expacare, an insurance intermediary specialising in offering international medical insurance products to individual and corporate clients.

She is also on the Executive Committee of AIMIP (Association of International Medical Insurance Providers) and was the Chairman for the Health Insurance Counter Fraud Group prior to its merger with IFIG.

Mandy Hobbs

Mandy is Claims Fraud Manager at Vitality and joined the IFIG Board following the Health Insurance Counter Fraud Group joined IFIG.

MA B&W

Marcus Allen

Marcus is the Head of Financial Crime Prevention with First Central Insurance and Technology Group. He joined First Central in February 2021, to protect the Company against the challenges of colleagues working from home.

Marcus also leads a team of external investigators and works closely with the Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED) and other law enforcement agencies relating to criminal referrals.

Marcus served for 30 years as a career detective with the City of London Police. From 2013, with IFED team, an industry funded unit of 39 detectives, he led a team investigating all types of insurance fraud throughout England and Wales.

In 2017, Marcus was seconded to investigate several high profile and politically sensitive internal fraud cases. During his final role he investigated serious and organised crime groups deploying the most advanced covert techniques. The crimes investigated include drug and human trafficking, supplying firearms, blackmail and solicitation to murder.

Marcus joined the IFIG Board in January 2024.

MT

Mike Tuck – Intel Platform Support

Mike started his career in HM Prison Service where within the High Security Estate he managed some of the Country’s highest profile, & most dangerous offenders.

Mike then held positions within the retail loss prevention sector, before moving into the Security, Loss Prevention & Risk of groups of distribution centres.

Following this Mike moved into the Wholesale Sector with positions with Makro & Booker before taking on his current role of UK Security & Audit Manager for Thrifty Car & Van Hire.

Mike also chair’s The Department for Transports Rental Vehicle Security Scheme (RVSS) a body established by Government to introduce guidance to the vehicle rental sector following the terrorist events in the UK.

Outside of work Mike is also a Trustee of a Wales based mental health charity Signposted Cymru Home | Signposted Cymru

The History of IFIG

In the mid-1990’s a number of insurance fraud investigators representing major UK insurers joined together to discuss the increasing problem of fraud against the UK insurance industry.

It quickly became apparent those investigators were frequently dealing with the same people who were attempting to systematically defraud several Insurers.

Members of the Group therefore developed a network and process for sharing of criminal intelligence for the purpose of fraud prevention and investigation.

In 1999 the group, assumed the title of Insurance Fraud Investigators Group (IFIG).

At that time IFIG was affiliated to the ABI Crime and Anti-Fraud Bureau. In 2001, the ABI reaffirmed its key objective as being a strategic organisation. IFIG then developed an independent identity dedicated to the prevention and investigation of insurance fraud in the U.K.

Since that time, IFIG’s membership has grown rapidly and now stands at over 320 member organisations, consisting of Insurers, Investigators, Loss Adjusters, Lawyers and Law Enforcement. In October 2008, IFIG was granted SAFO status under the Serious Crime Act 2007.

All IFIG members are committed to the organisation’s key aims of:

  • Detecting and preventing Insurance Fraud
  • Raising the profile of Insurance Fraud as a crime
  • Providing a forum to discuss anti-fraud initiatives and techniques
  • Sharing relevant Intelligence via the National Intelligence Model

In order to achieve its objectives, IFIG has developed close associations with the ABI, Insurance Fraud Bureau,law enforcement agencies and regulatory bodies including the FSA, SIA, SRA and Ministry of Justice Claims Management Regulator, many of whom benefit from honorary IFIG membership.

As IFIG continues to grow its vision of assisting the UK Insurance Industry to defeat fraud becomes ever more achievable. It is clear our efforts are having a severe deterrent effect on insurance fraudsters.