What are the red flags of this scam?

The 'broker' or 'agent' contacted you through social media (Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook) or WhatsApp — FCA-authorised brokers do not cold-approach via DM • The quoted premium is dramatically cheaper than every comparison site — ghost brokers get lower quotes by falsifying your address, occupation, or no-claims history, making the policy void • Payment is requested by bank transfer, cash, or cryptocurrency rather than by card through a secure checkout • The broker cannot provide an FCA registration number, or the number they give does not match on the FCA Register at https://register.fca.org.uk • You receive policy documents quickly by WhatsApp or email rather than by post from the insurer directly — genuine insurers send confirmation directly to you, not via a broker • The broker's social media account has a large follower count but relatively recent posts, or followers who look fake

What should I do if this happened to me?

Before paying any insurance premium, verify the broker on the FCA Register at https://register.fca.org.uk — check both the firm and the individual you are dealing with. • Ask the broker to give you the insurer's name and your policy number, then call the insurer directly to confirm the policy exists — a real insurer will be able to verify it. • If you believe you have a fake policy, do not drive the vehicle — you would be committing an offence. Contact a legitimate insurer immediately. • Report ghost brokers to the Insurance Fraud Bureau on 0800 422 0421 (free) or via ifb.org.uk/reportfraud. Also report to Action Fraud at https://www.actionfraud.police.uk. • Report to Report Fraud at https://www.reportfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040.

HIGH other Last reported: 30 Sept 2026 Share

"Cheap car insurance" offered through social media — the policy is fake or cancelled after purchase

Q: Is this a scam?

Yes. This is a documented scam pattern. Ghost brokers sell fake, forged, or immediately cancelled car insurance policies through Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and WhatsApp, targeting under-25s priced out of standard policies. The documents look real; victims only learn they are uninsured when police stop them.

Ghost brokers sell fake, forged, or immediately cancelled car insurance policies through Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and WhatsApp, targeting under-25s priced out of standard policies. The documents look real; victims only learn they are uninsured when police stop them.

Also known as: ghost broker scam UK, fake car insurance social media, TikTok insurance broker scam, Instagram car insurance fraud, unregistered insurance broker UK, fake insurance policy UK

Already happened to you? Do this in the next few minutes

1 Call your bank or card's fraud line right now. Use the number on the back of your card — not any number from the message or caller. Ask them to stop or reverse the payment and freeze the account.
2 If you paid by gift card, wire, or an app (Zelle, Venmo, Cash App): contact that company immediately and report it as fraud. Acting fast sometimes recovers the money.
3 Report to the FBI at ic3.gov and the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The sooner, the better.

What to do right now

1 Before paying any insurance premium, verify the broker on the FCA Register at https://register.fca.org.uk — check both the firm and the individual you are dealing with.
2 Ask the broker to give you the insurer's name and your policy number, then call the insurer directly to confirm the policy exists — a real insurer will be able to verify it.
3 If you believe you have a fake policy, do not drive the vehicle — you would be committing an offence. Contact a legitimate insurer immediately.
4 Report ghost brokers to the Insurance Fraud Bureau on 0800 422 0421 (free) or via ifb.org.uk/reportfraud. Also report to Action Fraud at https://www.actionfraud.police.uk.
5 Report to Report Fraud at https://www.reportfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040.

Red flags

⚠ The 'broker' or 'agent' contacted you through social media (Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook) or WhatsApp — FCA-authorised brokers do not cold-approach via DM
⚠ The quoted premium is dramatically cheaper than every comparison site — ghost brokers get lower quotes by falsifying your address, occupation, or no-claims history, making the policy void
⚠ Payment is requested by bank transfer, cash, or cryptocurrency rather than by card through a secure checkout
⚠ The broker cannot provide an FCA registration number, or the number they give does not match on the FCA Register at https://register.fca.org.uk
⚠ You receive policy documents quickly by WhatsApp or email rather than by post from the insurer directly — genuine insurers send confirmation directly to you, not via a broker
⚠ The broker's social media account has a large follower count but relatively recent posts, or followers who look fake

Already happened to you? Do this in the next few minutes

What to do right now

Red flags

Sources