Aston University and Domestic and General Insurance Plc KTP 24_25 R2

Every year, thousands of people file false claims for broken washing machines, fridges, and laptops, costing insurers millions. This project will build an “Intelligent Insurance Fraud Detection System” (IIFDS) that spots high-risk behaviour and fraudulent activity in domestic appliance and consumer electronics insurance policies. Fraud in this sector is notoriously difficult to catch. Unlike car or home insurance, where physical inspections are common, appliance claims often rely on self-reported faults and remote diagnostics. Fraudsters exploit this gap, filing claims for pre-existing damage, stolen items they never owned, or even the same appliance under multiple policies. Current detection methods are slow and reactive, catching fraud only after payouts have been made. If the system works, it could flag suspicious claims in real time, before money leaves the insurer. That would reduce premiums for honest customers and free up investigators to focus on genuine cases. The technology might also be adapted for other types of product insurance, from smartphones to medical devices. For the public, the biggest change would be invisible: fewer fraudulent payouts mean lower costs for everyone who insures their household electronics.