NICB fraud hotline

BC-NICB-fraud-hotline

To: NATIONAL EDITORS

Contact: Frank Scafidi of National Insurance Crime Bureau,

+1-916-979-7025, [email protected]

Concerned Consumers Exceed 2008 Calls By 122 Percent

DES PLAINES, Ill., Jan. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National

Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reported receiving 5,562 tips from the public in

2009 -- more than doubling the 2,500 received in the previous year. Americans

can report suspected insurance crimes by text, toll-free telephone and online

through the NICB Web site. Last year NICB expanded its traditional hotline

(1.800.TEL.NICB) by adding a text messaging capability -- TIP411 -- for cell

phone users.

In 2009 tipsters provided valuable information to NICB investigators which

helped uncover fraudulent insurance schemes involving medical fraud,

chiropractors, auto body/glass repair shops, roofers and others. Schemes like

these occur daily and cause millions of dollars in losses to insurance

companies -- losses that are ultimately passed on to consumers through higher

premiums.

"Some of these tips have led to investigations that involve criminal rings

that are conducting operations involving millions of dollars in false

insurance claims and payments," said Joe Wehrle, NICB president and CEO. "The

increasing number of tips shows that the American public has lost its patience

and is ready and eager to fight back. NICB and its member companies and law

enforcement partners are actively pursuing these valuable leads and following

them through with arrests and prosecutions."

If you suspect fraud, call our hotline, report it online or text the

keyword "FRAUD" to TIP411 (847411). Tips can be anonymous.

About the National Insurance Crime Bureau: headquartered in Des Plaines,

Ill., the NICB is the nation's leading not-for-profit organization exclusively

dedicated to preventing, detecting and defeating insurance fraud and vehicle

theft through information analysis, investigations, training, legislative

advocacy and public awareness. The NICB is supported by more than 1,000

property and casualty insurance companies and self-insured organizations.

NICB member companies wrote nearly $343 billion in insurance premiums in 2008,

or more than 82 percent of the nation's property/casualty insurance. To learn

more visit http://www.nicb.org.

SOURCE National Insurance Crime Bureau

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