NICB Reports a 24 Percent Rise in Suspicious Claims Since 2008

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Feb 23, 2011, 06:00 ET

Auto Glass Fraud and Inflated Towing/Storage Bills Lead Increase

DES PLAINES, Ill., Feb. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) today released its 2010 questionable claims (QC) referral reason analysis. The report examines six referral reason categories of claims: property, casualty, commercial, workers' compensation, vehicle and miscellaneous referred in 2010, with those referred in 2008 and 2009.

In 2008, a total of 74,146 QCs were referred to NICB from its member insurance companies compared with 91,797 received in 2010—a 24 percent increase. In 2009, a total of 84,407 QCs were referred. The difference between 2009 and 2010 was an increase of 8.7 percent. Questionable claims are those claims that NICB member insurance companies refer to NICB for closer review and investigation based on one or more indicators of possible fraud. A single claim may contain up to seven referral reasons.

The full report is available at: www.nicb.org/File%20Library/Public%20Affairs/2010-Referral-Reason-Analysis.pdf.

Vehicle QC analysis identified auto glass fraud and inflated towing/storage bills as the top two referral reasons in 2010 garnering increases of 450 percent and 116 percent, respectively, over their 2009 numbers.

"Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime," said NICB President and CEO Joe Wehrle. "It affects all consumers who buy insurance because the money lost to fraud is recovered, in part, through higher premiums. NICB, its member companies and law enforcement across the nation are working to reduce this criminal activity, and I urge all Americans to help us help them. Don't tolerate fraud. If you suspect it, report it."

Anyone with information concerning vehicle theft and insurance fraud can report it anonymously by calling toll-free 1-800-TEL-NICB (1-800-835-6422), texting keyword "fraud" to TIP411 (847411) or by visiting our web site at www.nicb.org.

About the National Insurance Crime Bureau: headquartered in Des Plaines, Ill., the NICB is the nation's leading not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to preventing, detecting and defeating insurance fraud and vehicle theft through information analysis, investigations, training, legislative advocacy and public awareness. The NICB is supported by nearly 1,100 property and casualty insurance companies and self-insured organizations. NICB member companies wrote over $319 billion in insurance premiums in 2009, or more than 78 percent of the nation's property/casualty insurance. That includes more than 93 percent ($151 billion) of the nation's personal auto insurance. To learn more visit www.nicb.org.

SOURCE National Insurance Crime Bureau