Updated on 20 May 2026

What is a Ghost Broker?

A ghost broker is someone who pretends to be an insurance broker and sells fake or invalid insurance policies.

Victims are often looking for cheaper car insurance and may be approached through social media, messaging apps or adverts promising unusually low prices. The offer can look convincing, but when the customer needs to make a claim, or is stopped by the police, they may find that no valid policy exists.

Ghost broking can leave victims uninsured, out of pocket and at risk of fines, points, vehicle seizure or prosecution. Recent reporting shows that fraudsters are increasingly using social media adverts, messaging apps, fake websites and mobile-only contact details to appear credible.

Why does this matter for legitimate brokers?

As awareness of ghost broking grows, customers are being encouraged to check that the businesses they deal with are genuine.

Common warning signs include:

• Brokers who use a mobile number
• Contact through social media or messaging apps
• No business landline or published office number
• Free email addresses instead of a business domain
• No clear website, company details or FCA registration
• Pressure to pay quickly, often by bank transfer
• Quotes that seem unusually cheap

For legitimate insurance brokers and financial services businesses, this creates a trust issue. Even if your business is genuine, calling customers from a personal mobile number can make you look less professional and may raise concerns.

Ghost brokers are using social media and mobile numbers

Ghost brokers often target people where they already spend time online. This can include Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, WhatsApp and other messaging platforms.

They may advertise ‘cheap insurance’, use professional-looking profiles, send policy documents by message or ask customers to share personal details through a chat app.

Some will only provide a mobile number. Others may use a number temporarily, then stop responding once payment has been made. This makes it harder for customers to verify who they are dealing with.

That is why a clear, consistent business identity matters. A recognised office number, professional email address and proper website all help customers feel confident that they are speaking to a real business.

How can legitimate businesses avoid looking like ghost brokers?

Legitimate brokers can build trust by making it easy for customers to verify who they are.

Practical steps include:

• Use a published business number rather than a personal mobile number
• Present your office number when calling customers from a mobile
• Use a business email address with your company domain
• Keep your website, contact details and regulatory information up to date
• Link social media profiles back to your official website
• Avoid conducting the whole sales process through private messages
• Make payment routes clear, professional and traceable
• Encourage customers to check your firm on the FCA Financial Services Register

How do I show my office number when calling from a mobile?

Many legitimate brokers and financial services firms now work flexibly, with teams taking calls from home, on the road or away from the office.

That does not mean staff need to call customers from personal mobile numbers.

With a cloud phone system, your team can make and receive calls using your business number from wherever they are working. This helps you present a consistent, professional identity while giving staff the flexibility to work from a laptop, desk phone or mobile app.

How Webex with BeamRing can help

Webex with BeamRing gives users the features of an office phone system without needing to be tied to a desk. Your team can:

• Make outbound calls that present your business number
• Answer calls made to your office number
• Use the Webex app on a laptop or smartphone
• Support call forwarding, hunt groups and flexible call handling

This helps your business look professional, consistent and easy to verify, even when your people are working remotely.

For insurance brokers and other regulated businesses, that consistency matters. It reassures customers that they are speaking to a genuine organisation and helps reduce the risk of your calls being mistaken for suspicious mobile-only contact.

A more professional way to work from anywhere