Investigating High-Value Cell Phone Fraud

The case background

An insurance provider engaged Serpenti Investigations NZ to undertake a series of investigations into a surge of claims involving allegedly stolen high-value cell phones.

Given the rapid escalation in the number of claims and the significant financial exposure involved, the client required a trusted investigative partner capable of delivering both forensic-level detail and strategic pattern analysis.

Our Objective

Assess the validity of individual cell phone theft claims, identify fraudulent patterns, uncover potential linkages between claims, and provide comprehensive evidence to support underwriting decisions on claim acceptance or declination.

"Serpenti Investigations has been instrumental in helping us identify and manage fraud risks involving high-value technology claims.
Their technical expertise, meticulous evidence gathering, and clear reporting have been of the highest calibre."
— Claims Integrity Manager, National Insurance Company

Our Approach to the case

Interview and Field Investigations:
Conducted structured interviews with claimants, visited incident locations, and completed area inquiries to verify reported theft scenarios.
Cross-Case Link Analysis:
Identified similarities across multiple cases, highlighting potential organized fraud activity through behavioural and circumstantial linkages.
Technical Asset Verification:
Utilized telecommunications data, including device location tracking, message analysis, and usage patterns, to validate or disprove claimants' accounts.
Evidence Compilation and Reporting:
Provided detailed investigative reports on each case, complete with evidentiary findings and professional recommendations for claim handling.
Strategic Advisory:
Worked in close collaboration with the insurer’s underwriting and risk teams to align investigative insights with broader portfolio risk management strategies.

Our Results

A substantial volume of the investigated claims was identified as fraudulent.

The insurer was empowered to decline fraudulent claims confidently, mitigating significant potential losses.

Investigative findings also contributed to enhanced underwriting protocols for high-value portable electronic device policies, improving long-term fraud prevention measures.

Timeframe

Rolling investigations conducted 6-month period

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Investigating High-Value Cell Phone Fraud Across Multiple Claims

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