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 – 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ann Lomax
As Senior Client Relationship Manager with Examworks Investigation Services, Ann draws on over 35 years’ experience in insurance claims and in particular the investigation of fraud in all its guises . She began her career as a claims handler with Norwich Union, before moving to AGF Insurance, where she gained invaluable experience as a Claims Inspector, investigating both opportunistic fraud through to UK wide organised fraud rings.
Ann has been with ExamWorks since 2006 and assists in the growth of new business; helping maximise opportunities for new and existing customers; and ensuring through industry collaboration, we stay one step ahead of the fraudsters. IFIG plays a crucial part in uniting Insurers in the fight against fraud and she is proud to a board member. Ann is also Chairman of the Manchester Claims Association, whose role is to educate and share knowledge in the northwest claims arena.
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.
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
Marc Shickell
Marc has worked at Covea for 28 years, 25 of which have been focussed on Fraud/Financial Crime. Marc has held various Financial Crime roles from handler through to current position of Senior Manager. He brings a breadth of fraud knowledge, as in his current role at Covea he has Operational responsibility for Financial Crime at all stages of the customer journey, across multiple product lines, both Domestic and Commercial.
Marc has a passion for the prevention and detection of fraud and is a firm believer that we cannot do this effectively in isolation. Collaboration is one of the best defences we, as an industry, have and IFIG is a fantastic vehicle for that.
Mandy Hobbs
Mandy has worked for Vitality since 2004 and is the Claims Fraud Manager running team who investigate both Private Medical Insurance (PMI) and Life product claims.
She is a Certified Counter Fraud Specialist having obtained formal qualifications whilst working as an NHS Fraud Investigator. Prior to this Mandy specialised in fraud early on whilst working for HMRC.
Mandy was on the board of the Health Insurance Counter Fraud Group (HICFG) and initiated the merger with IFIG. Vitality had been a member of IFIG as PruProtect / VitalityLife and used the IFIG database. Having a central database which is accessible for all our diverse range of members to share fraud intelligence and proven insurance fraud cases helps us all to prevent and detect fraud. Mandy is keen to promote fraud awareness, collaboration and professionalism and IFIG provides this opportunity.
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.