Insurance fraud is literally people trying to wrongfully claim their insurance and land on some big money. Insurance frauds happen with literally all types of insurance policies; from homeowners to auto to even health insurance.
People often stage or fake certain incidents or accidents that would land them on insurance money, especially if they feel that the policy is expiring. This is surely a crime which is punishable in the court, by either jail time or hefty fines.
Read along to find out more about insurance frauds and their punishments.
Types of Insurance Frauds
This is a list of some of the fraudulent insurance claims that are committed by homeowners, auto owners or people trying to commit health insurance fraud.
- False Claims: Many people try to stage accidents and fake them when they didn’t even happen. Damaging their property or ruining their car themselves or hiring someone else to do it so that they are able to make a claim on insurance.
- Exaggeration: This is often done if an area is affected by natural disaster like a flood or an earthquake. The affected region will have homeowners filing for a genuine claim, so this gives an opportunity to people to self-damage their property and ask money on the basis of such natural hazards. When there are so many people filing for claims, the insurance company may not have enough representatives to go and personally investigate the cause of damage- thus many people may get what they want.
- Overstating the value: For instance if there has been a burglary in the house, people can overstate the monetary value of some of their important assets lost like laptops or TV. Or even if you ask the repair person or handyman to make a higher bill for the work they’ve done, this is also insurance fraud. People do this to gather larger claims on the insurance money.
- Dishonesty: If you knowingly provide improper information to the insurance company, or submit somebody else’s insurance receipt with the attempt of getting a bigger claim, you’re not only being dishonest to yourself but also the insurance company.
Examples of Insurance Frauds
Let’s say during a burglary, the only things that were lost were a laptop and a TV. While giving a list to the homeowners insurance company, you add in a few extra things too: gold jewelry, a camera, an expensive watch. Things you don’t even own.
Or, during the burglary you overstate the value. Maybe the laptop was originally for $500, but you increase it to $600 when you’re filing for a claim. INSURANCE FRAUD!
Let’s say the side of your wall got damaged last year, and this year the roof got flooded. You know the side was not a result of the flood, still you ask the insurance company to compensate for the ENTIRE loss.
During a medical treatment for an injured right leg, you also put in the injury of the left ankle (which wasn’t a result of the same accident), to try to get a bigger insurance claim to treat more of your medical expenses. This is surely a health insurance fraud.
Car Insurance Frauds Punishment
If you’re ever caught committing fraudulent activity, the local government punishment is really severe. The fine can be charged for up to $50,000 and can even exceed depending upon the severity of the case. But under federal law the punishment is more lethal, it could round up to $250,000 per incident.
The defendant is also likely to serve up to 5 years in prison.
A soft fraud is usually considered conscious misdemeanour, and the punishment is usually a short time in jail or a fine amount. A hard fraud is considered a major felony in the eyes of the law. The punishment is obviously stricter, with more years in State prison and a very high amount of fine.
Moreover, once such fraud is written on your record and profile, it lowers your credit score. You might never be allowed to claim any type of insurance again.
How to report Insurance Frauds?
If you ever see an insurance fraud happening in your neighborhood or your area, it is your responsibility as a citizen to report it.
If you’re a citizen and witness any fraudulent activity, you can lodge a complaint and report it via:
Internet: There are many websites and apps on the internet that take notice of fraudulent activity, all you have to do is fill out an application. Some websites also help you report it anonymously so it’s not a problem for people willing to hide their identity.
You can report it online on: National Insurance Crime Bureau or Insurance Fraud Bureau.
Phone: You can call on hotline numbers 800.835.6422 or (888) 372-8369 from Monday to Friday.
Mail or Fax: You can print your fraud application and send it via mail to:
New York State Department of Financial Services
Insurance Frauds Bureau
One State Street, New York, NY 10004
Or fax it to (212) 709-3555.
Conclusion
Committing insurance fraud is strictly punishable by law, a person who is caught doing this is liable to serve time in prison along with paying a hefty fine sum. And if you’re someone who has noticed someone committing fraud, it is your responsibility to report it to an insurance fraud investigator and make sure the person is served right.
Every small deed in the right direction makes an effect, so if you’re someone who condemns illegal acts, make sure you’re on the right side of the spectrum.