Most of us look forward to our annual vacations, time away from the office, winding down, and relaxing in the sun. Many will travel with the minimum of insurance coverage, often as part of package holidays or tours or with policies offered through our financial institutions or credit card companies. The majority will never make a claim.

For others, however, claiming against their travel insurance is a professional occupation. A recent survey by the Association of British Insurers found that 47 percent of travelers were prepared to make fraudulent travel insurance claims. Many were opportunists willing to take the risk.

In 2001, a Sydney Sun-Herald article quoted Tony Dear, the Australian travel insurance industry pioneer, as saying that one in four travel insurance claims was fraudulent. Despite this, six in 10 claims were paid within a week or 10 days, he said.

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