NU Online News Service, Dec.17, 10:34 a.m.EST

A group of college students has won an award for an antiinsurance fraud video posted on YouTube, the New York AllianceAgainst Insurance Fraud (NYAAIF) said.

NYAAIF earlier this month celebrated the winners of its YouTubevideo contest at its annual meeting in New York.

The Top contest honor went to three SUNY Cortland students. JohnPassmore of Horseheads, N.Y.; Teresa Riley of Liverpool, N.Y.; andJoe Sciortino, of West Harrison, N.Y. were awarded $500 forproducing a short entitled "Buying Insurance Fraud."

The fraud prevention video contest was open to students enrolledin New York colleges and universities and ran this past September.After a two week period of public viewing on YouTube, the NYAAIFboard reviewed the videos and selected the grand prize winner.

The winning video focused on the cost of insurance fraud forAmericans-over $80 billion each year- which, could "fund NASA . . .or send 12 million kids to college." the video said.

"The board was very impressed with the message these studentsput together, literally explaining NYAAIF's tagline 'fraud, thecrime you pay for,'" John Sargent, NYAAIF chair said.

According to NYAAIF research has proven that awareness has beenthe most effective method for reducing and preventing insurancefraud.

"NYAAIF initiated this contest in an effort to increaseawareness within the younger generations," Mr. Sargent said. "Wethink the contest was successful in reaching this target audience.Ultimately, we hope it also proves successful in educatingindividuals at an early age about the price and consequences ofinsurance fraud."

NYAAIF is a cooperative effort by insurance companies in NewYork to educate consumers about the costs of insurance fraud, themany forms it can take and what they can do to fight back.

The organization, which is online at www.fraudny.com, noted thatindividuals can call 1-888-FRAUD NY to anonymously report suspectedcases of fraud.