Seagull-Chasing Dog 'Dies' in £31k Fictional Pet Insurance Fraud

A taxi driver has been sentenced for a sophisticated insurance scam involving pets that never existed. Robert Cretu, 40, submitted 30 false claims to five insurers between December 2023 and August 2025, pocketing £31,700. He concocted elaborate tales of pet deaths, including a dog supposedly killed by a lorry in the Lake District and another named Leo who fell into the sea chasing a seagull off Blackpool Pier.

Cretu used fake names for the policies and paid claims into other people's bank accounts, submitting forged veterinary notes. While some claims were flagged and rejected due to suspicious activity or excessive costs, he successfully defrauded insurers for a significant sum. The court heard Cretu was struggling financially after his taxi repeatedly broke down.

Appearing at Liverpool Crown Court, Cretu admitted five counts of fraud by false representation. He was handed a 20-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, with a rehabilitation requirement. The judge cited Cretu's remorse, his admissions to detectives, and the substantial impact immediate custody would have on his family, particularly his partner and her child, as reasons for suspending the sentence. Cretu expressed his intention to repay the insurers.