June 15, 2015

It is not unusual for someone without insurance to have a loss and then suddenly decide that they need to be insured. What then happens is they claim the loss occurred AFTER the policy was written. This is a very common form of fraud and should be watched for. The following checklist can help identify a suspiciously-timed claim, and two of these factors indicate that the claim should be referred to investigators for further research.

 The following are red flags in the timing of a claim. The claim is made

 

____shortly after the issuance of the policy.

 

____shortly after the limits of the policy are increased.

 

____in an insured's first insurance policy.

 

____shortly before the expiration of a policy.

 

____within days of a notice of cancellation being served.

 

____on a policy acquired from an agent far from the insured's home or business.