Insurance Fraud-Protect Yourself

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While you may not be a person who would commit insurance fraud, it is important for you to know some basic information to hopefully protect yourself from becoming a victim of insurance fraud.

Insurance fraud is lying to an insurance company in order to make money. Some common fraud schemes include:

• "padding" claims
• inflating claims
• changing the facts when applying for insurance
• turning in claims for accidents that never happened
• "staging" accidents

As a consumer, fraud should concern you since the cost is passed directly on to you in the form of higher insurance rates. You can play an important role in reducing auto insurance fraud.

• Drive carefully and defensively.
• Don't tailgate. Make sure there is space between you and the cars in front of and behind you. When traffic slows in front of you, begin braking before the car in front of you does.
• Be careful when turning into a lane that allows two or more autos to turn left at the same time. Victims of insurance fraud are often people who float across the line when turning and then are intentionally sideswiped by a person who is "staging" an accident.
• If you are in an accident, keep an accurate record of what happens at the scene. Write down license numbers, names of those involved, insurance company information. Count the number of passengers in the other cars and get their names, addresses and any other pertinent information.
• Call the police and get a police report even if the damage is minimal. Don't let another driver talk you out of calling the police by his/her saying that they will "take care of it."
• Carry a disposable camera in your glove compartment and take pictures not only of the damage to the vehicles, but also of the other passengers in the car. Many times people who were not even present at the accident will attempt to file a claim.
• Think of insurance fraud as money out of your pocket-because it is. According to the US Chamber of Commerce, fraud adds 25% to property and casualty insurance rates.
• If you are involved in an accident and you are suspicious that fraud may be involved, call the National Insurance Crime Bureau at 1-800-835-6423.

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