Research from Ageas UK and YouGov shows that the public doesn’t view insurance fraud as a one-size-fits-all issue. Instead, respondents distinguish between types of fraud based on their perception of harm, intent, and scale - revealing a more nuanced perspective of what constitutes wrongdoing.
Schemes that cause harm to others, such as ‘Crash for Cash’, are widely condemned due to the tactics involved and the serious risks they pose. When it comes to intent, opportunistic exaggerations are generally seen as more acceptable than deliberate, premeditated fraud. The scale of dishonesty also plays a role in perception: minor misrepresentations – like tweaking a job title – are often viewed as “white lies,” with one in five people believing it's justifiable not to disclose every detail when getting an insurance quote. In contrast, complete fabrications, such as ghost broking, are considered completely unacceptable.
The study also found that more than one in three respondents have heard of an ‘insurance hack’, most commonly through TV or radio programmes. While not all such hacks are harmful, social media and entertainment platforms are emerging as key sources of potentially misleading or unethical tips.
Commenting on the findings, Katie Davies, Director of Underwriting Services and Fraud at Ageas UK, said:
“This research highlights the public’s growing awareness of insurance fraud and the moral lines they draw between different types of deception. It’s clear that while some behaviours are seen as forgivable, others - especially those that endanger people - are condemned outright.
Advice shared on social media can be helpful, but it can be misrepresented and misinterpreted. That’s why I would always encourage people to apply common sense and consider both the source and legitimacy of any guidance they come across.”
To support customers and strengthen fraud prevention, Ageas UK continues to invest in advanced fraud detection technologies. These tools help identify suspicious patterns and respond swiftly to emerging threats, such as using AI to manipulate images, ensuring genuine customers are protected and fraudsters are held to account.
One of the tools that we use performs forensic authentication and screening of documents and images to identify signs of manipulation, such as altered metadata, inconsistent geolocation, or AI-generated content. Using this tool, we have examined more than 650,000 files from more than 135,000 claims so far this year and found anomalies in 5% of the claims reviewed. While not all anomalies are confirmed as fraudulent claims, this early detection capability plays a critical role in accelerating investigations and safeguarding the integrity of our claims process.
Katie added:
“At Ageas, we’re committed to protecting our customers through innovation and vigilance. Our investment in cutting-edge technology like the Fraud Detect System allows us to expose fraud faster and more accurately - helping us deliver fair outcomes for customers”.
This research was conducted by YouGov on behalf of Ageas to explore public attitudes and behaviours around insurance fraud. It combined an online survey of 2,048 UK adults (fieldwork: 31 January – 11 February 2025) with in-depth qualitative interviews (fieldwork: 10–21 February 2025) involving 16 participants identified as having a predisposition to commit insurance fraud. The sample included both motor and home insurance policyholders, and results were weighted to be nationally representative by age, gender, and region.