Dodgy Croydon estate agent scammer strikes again to make £61k in insurance pay-outs

Croydon: A dodgy estate agent is back in the news for scamming insurance companies. Dominic Ayo Williams, 37, has been up to no good again, making false claims during the pandemic.

He raked in a whopping £61,380 from 25 bogus claims over 18 months. Williams, who previously went by Ayodele Oladuti, was already in trouble for identity theft.

In November 2023, he pleaded guilty to multiple fraud charges. He got a two-year sentence, but it’s suspended for 18 months. He’s also under a Serious Crime Prevention Order.

This order means he has to follow strict rules. He can’t own too many phones or computers. Plus, he must tell the police whenever he opens a new bank account or takes out insurance.

If he breaks these rules, he could face up to five years in prison. Detective Constable Dan Weller said Williams took advantage of Covid disruptions to make these claims.

Williams even had the nerve to apologize when an insurer got suspicious. He sent forged documents the very next day!

AXA’s fraud team caught on to him after he made eight claims worth nearly £25,000. He claimed he had to cancel trips due to Covid restrictions.

But police found out he hadn’t booked any of the flights or hotels he claimed. He was arrested in November 2021 and initially said nothing, but later admitted to everything.

Aviva also flagged him for nearly £37,000 in claims, including a lost Louis Vuitton bag and other expensive items. They discovered his past fraud convictions, which didn’t help his case.

Williams tried to deny his previous convictions, but the evidence was clear. He even forged documents to back up his lies.

Aviva’s Special Investigations Manager said Williams exploited the pandemic for his scams. They’re committed to fighting fraud and protecting honest customers.