Men sentenced for selling customer data

An AXA insurance employee has been convicted of stealing customer data and selling it to a claims management company.

Shane Jerman was taking photographs of customer data and sending them via WhatsApp to his co-defendant Stuart McGill. Investigators found that Jerman was sending McGill roughly 100 lines of data to him each week. In Return, McGill was sending payments of up to £650 to Jerman.

According to The City Of London Police’s Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED), which worked closely with AXA during the investigation, Jerman and McGill made approximately £18,250 between them.

IFED investigated McGill’s accounts and found payments made to him from a company named Mid North West. Mid North West was operating as a claims management company. McGill later admitted to receiving money from the company in return for he data supplied by Jerman.

Detective Constable Louise Wager, who the led the investigation for IFED, said: “These four men thought they could make easy money by selling on customer data, but instead they have been sentenced for their involvement, and will now be unable to work in a range of industries due to their criminal records. The Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department takes this type of fraud very seriously. As shown in this case with Axa Insurance, we continue to work effectively with insurers to try and eradicate fraudulent activity within the industry and deter anyone who is thinking of getting involved.”

Mike Bennett, head of investigations & fraud control at Axa UK, said: “We take information security and fraud extremely seriously here at Axa, and will investigate all cases then seek to prosecute for this type of activity. We would like to thank our internal teams who compiled the evidence as well as IFED who investigated the case. We hope this acts as a reminder that when it comes to fraud, the consequences are not worth the risk.”

At Preston Combined Court Centre, the men received the following sentences, after pleading guilty:

• Shane Jerman, – Nine months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months. 180 hours unpaid work and £450 court costs.
• Stuart McGill, – Nine months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months. 180 hours unpaid work and £450 court costs.