Fraudsters beware!  The Virginia State Police (VSP) Insurance Fraud Program (IFP) reports arrests for the crime of insurance fraud for the first half of 2007 have surpassed the total number of arrests for 2006.

According to the most recent statistics available for the first half of this year, VSP insurance fraud special agents have made 110 arrests for the crime of insurance fraud or “obtaining money by false pretense.”  A total of 89 arrests for insurance fraud were reported for 2006.

“This is a significant increase,” explained Lieutenant W. Roger Rector, Insurance Fraud Program Coordinator, “due in part to the hard work of the Department’s special agents as well as the quality of information we receive about suspected insurance fraud from both the insurance industry and Virginia citizens.”

The number of investigations initiated by VSP special agents is also up – 26 percent – when comparing the first six months of 2007 to the same time frame in 2006. Another figure that’s up is Web usage.  While the number of referrals sent to the IFP via the toll-free hotline, fax and mail are down, the insurance fraud referrals received through the Web are up almost 27 percent.

“Insurance fraud affects us all,” said Lt. Rector.  “The result is Virginia citizens not only pay higher insurance premiums, but the hidden costs of this crime mean we all pay more for everyday goods and services.”

Citizens who suspect insurance fraud or feel they have been a victim of insurance fraud are encouraged to notify the Virginia State Police Insurance Fraud Program at 1-877-62-FRAUD (623-7283) or go to www.stampoutfraud.com and click on “Report Fraud.”  They can remain anonymous.  Citizens may also be eligible for a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to an arrest for the crime of insurance fraud.

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Name

Email

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (Registered users only)

I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.

Add Comment