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 Washington Insurance Council Consumer Alert Contact:
Karl Newman, Executive
Director Washington Insurance Council Keep your money; fight insurance fraudSEATTLE – Every year, insurance fraud criminals steal large sums of money from you and people you know. A recent study conducted by the National Insurance Crime Bureau shows fraud costs Americans nearly $30 billion each year. That’s $200 to $300 in higher insurance premiums for the average household. But there is something you can do to help fight insurance fraud in our state – report it. Puget Sound Special Investigators and the Washington Insurance Council offer citizens cash rewards up to $5,000 for information on suspected insurance fraud. Just call the PSSI National Insurance Crime Bureau Hotline at 1-800-835-6422. You may remain completely anonymous. “Many people don’t realize how seriously the insurance industry views fraud and the resources that are dedicated to detecting it,” said Ben Remak, president of PSSI. “If a person is involved in a fraudulent claim, in addition to denial of their claim and voidance of their insurance, they risk criminal prosecution.” Insurance fraud steals from Americans in more ways than one. Not only does it cause higher insurance rates, it also raises taxes and inflates prices for consumer goods. Keeping that money in your own pocket starts with understanding who commits insurance fraud, and why they do it. The National Insurance Crime Bureau and PSSI offer these facts you should know: w Insurance criminals are not easily identifiable. They typically don’t carry guns or wear masks, but they can be just as damaging as other criminals. w Insurance fraud includes organized criminal enterprises, unscrupulous doctors and lawyers, dishonest body shop operators and even your neighbor or co-worker. w Regardless of who they are, insurance fraud criminals are motivated by money. Some insurance fraud crimes are elaborately planned schemes such as staged vehicle accidents complete with fake injuries, or faking injuries to collect disability, workers’ compensation or personal injury settlements. Others are simply average citizens pretending a car was stolen or that a stereo system cost more than it did. “The key thing to remember when we talk about insurance fraud is that we’re talking about your money,” said Karl Newman, executive director of the Washington Insurance Council. “I don’t think anyone wants to pay a higher insurance bill every month so that someone else can file a false claim and then take a trip to the Bahamas or live the high life on the payout.” PSSI is a non-profit organization of insurance companies and local and state law enforcement agencies dedicated to investigating suspicious insurance claims and auto theft. Washington Insurance Council is a non-profit, consumer education organization funded by member insurance companies. - 30 - |
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