The National Insurance Crime Bureau found a sharp increase in "questionable insurance claims" with the current economy. Insurance fraud is costing Northwest Households about $300 per year in higher premiums.
Seattle NICB investigator, Scott Wagner, says so far this year vehicle arson is up 27% nationwide. In many cases, he's found that vehicle owners are behind on their payments so they torch it and call it stolen. "The car ends up burning and the insurance company ends up finding out that they're four months behind on their payments," said Wagner.
In another example, Wagner shows a surveillance video of a woman pulling her S.U.V. into a Seattle restaurant parking lot. The video seems innocent enough, until she walks away from her car - forever. "She parked her car, set her alarm and then left and reported it stolen," said Wagner.
According to the NICB, in the first quarter of this year compared to the first quarter of last year, vehicle owner give-ups are up 24 percent.
Darrin Sanger with the Northwest Insurance Council calls insurance fraud a crime against everyone. He says that's because in the end all of us pay in the form of higher premiums. "When someone commits insurance fraud they're not just stealing from insurance companies," said Sanger, "They're stealing from fellow customers."
A recent study from the NICB shows property/casualty insurance fraud costs Americans nearly $30 billion each year.
The Northwest Insurance Council offers a reward for citizens who help investigators track down people who've committed insurance fraud.
Thank you to King5.com
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2 comments:
I find it interesting that most people know it's wrong to walk into a store and steal something. Yet, there are many out there who believe stealing from an insurance company is okay. What a shame and we all pay the price.
You're right. People don't realize it but we all pay.
Thanks for the great comment!
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