Brits mad for latest tech – and one in 20 get it by fraud

Upgrading to the latest piece of technological kit is a big financial deal for most people - but it looks like it could be an even bigger deal for insurers: one in 20 Brits is opting to get the latest piece of kit via insurance fraud.

The temptation to upgrade equipment for free is proving too strong for the UK. On fraudulent Brits' most-wanted list are new mobile phones, cameras or personal stereos, with Pinocchio tactics favoured as the best way to get them - mysteriously lost and nicked items are the most common scams.

And who are the worst offenders? The young and the single - often the people with the most disposable income, funnily enough, according to a survey conducted by online insurer Directline.com.

The peer pressure is all too much for them, apparently. The kids are easily swayed, with more than half saying that the new trends persuaded them to put their hands in their pockets (or someone else's).

While one in 10 people said they'd been economical with the truth in order to get the latest tech must-have, the figure for 16- to 25-year-olds rose to one in seven. That said, senior citizens are also happy to fiddle their insurance when they had an upgrade craving, with one in 20 65-year-olds and above prepared to let honesty give way to the myriad pleasures of shiny, shrink-wrapped tech toys.

According to geography, the Scots and those in the North East are the most honest, with the lowest rates of fraudulent behaviour - one per cent and three per cent of people, respectively. The worst offenders were the East Anglians at 11 per cent and the Welsh at 12 per cent.

Richard Coombe, head of ecommerce at Direct Line, said that he was surprised both by the level at which people are happy to try to rip off their insurers - and by the fact that they're so ready to admit to it.

"Even allowing for the fact that many people are likely to prefer to keep this type of information to themselves when asked, this survey has revealed a huge trend towards people of all ages attempting this type of insurance fraud, particularly regarding personal technology type products... there is clearly a diminishing social stigma to using any - even illegal - means to obtain the latest piece of kit, preferably ahead of friends or colleagues," he said in a statement.

Tech upgrade-hungry folk shouldn't get too set on the fraud idea. "We are well aware of this practice and of course vigilant to ensure that it does not succeed," Coombe added.