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Prevention

Insurance fraud arrests going up

Insurance fraud arrests going up

2011 Statistics Show Continued Progress Stamping Out Fraud in Virginia

RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia State Police Insurance Fraud Program just released their 2011 Annual Report, which shows the number of arrests for the crime of insurance fraud and other related crimes, such as arson, forgery and uttering are continuing to increase.

Since the first insurance fraud arrest was made by the new unit in 1999, VSP special agents have made a total of 2,185 arrests for insurance fraud and related offenses. In 2011, the Department’s special agents made 231 arrests for insurance fraud and other related offenses, which is an eight percent increase over 2010. Additionally, 91 cases were presented to the commonwealth’s attorneys and 143 cases were adjudicated in 2011 – an increase for the third year in a row. Since 1999, more than 4,000 fraud investigations have been undertaken by the VSP.

As required by Virginia law, the VSP investigates suspected fraud in property and casualty lines of insurance, as well as suspected workers’ compensation fraud. The 2011 statistics show 1,259 property fraud-related notifications were received by the IFP. Of the 627 notifications received involving injury and casualty fraud, 146 were for fraudulent workers’ compensation claims.

In 2011, the courts ordered restitution of more than $148,000. Court-ordered restitution since 1999 has surpassed $14 million, and suspected false insurance claims reported to the IFP, both attempted and collected, have topped $139 million.

The VSP is committed to “Stamp Out” insurance fraud occurring in the Commonwealth. If you have knowledge of a fraudulent insurance scheme or suspect you may have been the victim of insurance fraud, report the activity to Virginia State Police Insurance Fraud Program on the insurance fraud hotline at 1-877-62FRAUD (1- 877-623-7283) or visit StampOutFraud.com. You can also find us on Facebook and YouTube. Tipsters will remain anonymous and may also be eligible to receive a reward of up to $25,000.