CITY detectives visited Wiltshire this week as part of a nationwide crackdown on opportunist fraudsters.

Specialist fraud officers from the City of London Police interviewed one person at Salisbury Police Station over suspicions of insurance fraud.

A total of 15 people were interviewed at police stations across the country in the probe. Eight have been cautioned and the remaining seven, including the man interviewed at Salisbury, have been released under investigation.

The claims made by the 15 people totalled £165,110. Cases were referred to the City of London’s insurance fraud enforcement department by a number of insurers, including Swindon-based Zurich.

Det Ch Insp Andy Fyfe, head of the IFED unit, said: “Opportunistic fraud is not a victimless crime and these kind of fake claims are felt by everyone

“Through these days of action, we want to clampdown on this type fraud and hammer home to fraudsters, or indeed anyone thinking of making a false claim, that IFED and the insurance industry won’t tolerate it.

“Be in no doubt: if you make a fraudulent claim, we will investigate and you could end up with a criminal record, or even face time behind bars. On top of this, you’ll also face difficulty accessing financial products in the future, such as credit cards.

“These kinds of claims create a ‘compensation culture’ in the UK, with some claims management companies encouraging people to make frivolous and exaggerated claims, often with the alluring offer of a ‘no win, no fee’ service.

To report fraud, call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.