Poolman Launches Fraud Unit With Anti-Fraud Awareness Campaign Posted on 2/10/2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Cecily Cook
February 10, 2004
701-328-2440
Bismarck, ND - North Dakota Insurance Commissioner Jim Poolman announced today that a new fraud unit and insurance fraud awareness media campaign are starting statewide. The new unit, which will serve to investigate and deter insurance fraud, will work in conjunction with a new media campaign that is comprised of television advertisements, radio advertisements, and billboards. The campaign's message, "Insurance Fraud - Everybody Pays," illustrates types of fraud commonly perpetrated and instructs those who suspect fraud to report it to the Insurance Department. The 2003 North Dakota Legislature appropriated $150,000 to facilitate the creation, implementation, and marketing of the new fraud unit
Poolman said, "Many people think that insurance fraud does not occur here in North Dakota, but the reality is that it does, and it is estimated to cost the average household between $200 and $300 per year." Poolman added, "People don't seem to realize that when a company pays that fraudulent claim, we are all paying for that claim. This is an issue that really hits us all in the pocketbook."
Commissioner Poolman stated typical types of insurance fraud in North Dakota include:
Overstating the loss involved with a burglary or fire;
Staging a phony burglary or vehicle break-in and faking a loss;
Lying about the extent, cause, date, or location of legitimate damage;
Intentionally creating damage;
Making a claim for a loss that was already paid for by other insurance or through a prior claim.
"By and large, most North Dakotans are honest people. However, there are some who feel that they are entitled to pad their claims, to make up for premiums they've already paid," Poolman said. "We are working to make sure that all North Dakotans know this is wrong, and people can go to jail because of it."
Information on insurance fraud is available at the Department's website at: http://www.state.nd.us/ndins/. Any one who wishes to report fraud should call the Department at 1.800.247.0560.
