Job seekers are being warned of fake delivery driver work being listed over the festive period, enabling insurance details to be stolen by fraudsters.

Stolen identities are highly valuable to fraudsters, who use them to carry out harmful scams such as Crash for Cash and Ghost Broking. Cases of identity theft reported to the IFB have risen annually, with a sharp 42% increase in the past year alone [1].

Amid this trend, several insurers have told the IFB they’re finding more people are having their personal information stolen through fake delivery driver roles for insurance scams.

With Christmas and the January sales bringing a rise in courier vacancies, job hunters are being urged to be extra vigilant and report any evidence of insurance fraud to the IFB’s CheatLine.

Nicola Smith, Intelligence and Investigations Manager at the IFB, said:

“We’re concerned that more people are being caught out by fake delivery driver jobs and having their insurance details stolen for organised fraud. With more of these roles appearing in the run-up to Christmas and the January sales, it’s crucial for those looking for delivery work to be aware and stay vigilant.

“Victims are misled into believing they’ve secured a job and are encouraged to hand over copies of their insurance certificate, driving licence and other sensitive documents. The consequences are serious - fraudsters may take out multiple insurance policies in victims’ names, third parties can pursue them for costs, and their credit scores can be badly damaged. Young people may also be more vulnerable to this scam, as fraudsters exploit their need for work and they may be less aware of how important it is to protect their personal information.

“We want everyone to recognise the value of their personal information and protect it at all costs. We’re working closely with the industry and law enforcement to tackle this issue. If you believe your details have been stolen for an insurance scam, report it to our confidential CheatLine."

Mike Haley, CEO of Cifas, added:

“The rise in fake job adverts targeting delivery drivers is part of a broader trend of identity fraud that continues to dominate the fraud landscape. In the first half of 2025 alone, Cifas members reported a record 217,000 fraud risk cases, with identity fraud making up 118,000 (55%) of all filings.

“These figures underline how quickly criminals adapt to exploit seasonal opportunities. Our advice: apply only through official job sites, seek a second opinion on offers, and never share sensitive details under pressure.”

How does the scam work?

Insights show that fraudsters advertise courier roles on social media and classified ad websites. Applicants are told their application has been successful and are then asked for personal details - including their name, address, date of birth, car insurance information and a copy of their driving licence - supposedly to set them up as delivery drivers.

Fraudsters may use this data to take out policies in the applicant’s name and resell them as doctored policies, by posing as fake insurance brokers in a fraud known as Ghost Broking. This is a scam that tricks people who struggle to afford cover into buying fake car insurance online.

The fraudsters may also hijack genuine insurance policies to stage fraudulent claims in a scam known as Crash for Cash, which involves causing deliberate collisions for compensation. A type of this activity known as moped scams - which has been rising across London and Home Counties - is often driven by identity theft.

In such cases, the fraudster will use details stolen from the job seeker to fraudulently admit liability in their name, while the fraudster or an accomplice of theirs acts as the injured party. Doctored images and documents are then used to support the claim, often exaggerating damage, injuries and costs to inflate the payout.

The warning comes as the IFB recently announced cases of ID theft linked to organised insurance fraud have risen year on year, with levels in the past year now over seven times higher when compared with 2021. To help tackle the issue, the UK’s top policy fraud hotspots were revealed following an analysis of 2.4 million insurance policies, to highlight areas where people appear to be at greatest risk.

The rise also follows a recent announcement by Cifas, a not-for-profit organisation which protects public, private and voluntary sectors from fraud, reporting a 25% increase in insurance fraud linked to identity theft and false applications.

How can I protect myself?

People who are looking for delivery driver roles are encouraged to be vigilant, apply to reputable companies and ideally through their website to help ensure personal information is kept secure.

Simple measures can also protect personal information:

• Create strong, unique passwords for personal accounts.
• Avoid sharing personal details on social media.
• Shop only on legitimate retailers’ websites and never give bank details to unknown parties.
• Keep devices secure by installing software and app updates promptly and enable two-factor authentication where possible.
• Watch out for phishing and vishing attempts - never click on suspicious links, open unexpected files, or reveal personal details to unsolicited calls or text messages.

Report insurance fraud

The IFB is a not-for-profit organisation which leads the insurance industry’s collective fight against insurance fraud. Evidence of an insurance scam can be reported to the IFB’s confidential CheatLine online or via its phoneline (powered by CrimeStoppers) on 0800 422 0421.

Advice is available for anyone who believes their identity has been stolen in an insurance scam.

[1] Rise in intelligence submissions for suspected insurance fraud networks linked to ID theft added to the IFB’s IFiHUB (Insurance Fraud Intelligence Hub) by UK insurers, police and regulators. September 2021 - August 2022, 105 intel reports. September 2022 - August 2023, 339 intel reports. September 2023 - August 2024, 516 intel reports. September 2024 - August 2025, 735 intel reports.