There has been a noticeable decline in the number of consumers and companies trying to defraud insurers. More than 10,000 fraudsters were exposed last year, according to figures from the Association of Insurers, an industry group; This represents a 15 percent decrease compared to the previous year.
On the invoice for stolen sunglasses worth 285 Euros, simply put the number “1” in front of the purchase amount. Or drive a van into a guardrail and claim you were hit, even if the dent doesn’t look like it. Last year, 3,638 of such false cases were concluded. Additionally, 5,772 more fraudsters were caught through insurance applications.
According to the Dutch Insurance Association, this saved more than €80 million. “This ensures that people who believe in good faith do not pay too much money unnecessarily,” says Richard Weurding, managing director of the Dutch Insurance Association.
However, it is too early for insurers to say that the trend is reversing. “In the long term, we will see whether years of efforts in the field of prevention and detection no longer lead to this result,” said the Dutch Insurers Association.
Chances of getting caught are higher
Through these efforts, the advocacy group is seeking more opportunities and collaboration to detect manipulation. Last year, one in three cases resulted in a definitive determination of fraud. In other cases fraud could not be definitively detected.
The percentage of time this can be proven has not been as high in the last seven years as it is in 2022, according to insurers. A year ago, this rate was 25 percent.
Anyone exposed to fraud is included in an alert system visible to all insurers. Last year, there were almost a quarter fewer registrations than in 2021, with 3,759 new registrations.
Fraud Registry
A previous analysis by NOS found that not everyone was included in this fraud registry. Those affected can seek to make their names known through the Kifid Complaints Institute. The Association of Insurers said four people had to be removed from fraud registers last year following a decision by Kifid.
A spokesman for insurer ASR said the customer was always given the opportunity to explain if fraud was suspected. “This is important because once fraud is exposed, there are consequences,” the spokesperson emphasizes. Fraudsters can remain on record for one to eight years, depending on their size.
Source: NOS
Roy Brown is a renowned economist and author at The Nation View. He has a deep understanding of the global economy and its intricacies. He writes about a wide range of economic topics, including monetary policy, fiscal policy, international trade, and labor markets.
