How much do you know about insurance fraud? If you’re like most Americans, probably not much. It’s just not something you have to think about… until it happens to you.
That’s where we come in. As a Georgia church insurance group, we’ve worked with churches in the wake of insurance fraud, and we have a few tips to help you avoid it. Of course, we all hope that insurance fraud doesn’t happen to us. But in the event of fraudulent activity, the more you know, the more likely you are to avoid hassle and keep your money in your account.
First of all, did you know that insurance fraud costs the average American household around $300 annually? Every year, criminals steal an estimated $100 billion from families and insurance companies. Churches are just as susceptible.
Criminals use a variety of tactics to cheat you out of money. These may include:
- Arson
- Faked burglaries
- Faked auto thefts
- Faked disabilities
- Inflated claim amounts
- Staged accidents (such as falls)
- Staged auto accidents
- Worker’s comp fraud
According the FBI, here are a few ways to avoid becoming a victim:
- Never sign a blank insurance claim form
- Never give blanket permission to a medical provider for a bill
- Don’t do business with phone or door-to-door salespeople who tell you that services are free
- Don’t share your insurance identification with anyone but those who have provided you with legitimate services
- Be wary of unsolicited offers to do work on your property (“I noticed your trees need a trim/walls need paint/parking lot needs refinishing/etc”)
- Use local companies for contract work and check their rating with the Better Business Bureau
These are just a handful of tips. However, the most important thing you can do to stop fraudulent activity at your expense is to report is immediately. However, 40% of Americans say they are “not very likely” or “not likely at all” to report someone who defrauded an insurer. Your Georgia Church insurance group can’t help you get your money back if they don’t know about fraudulent activity.
Nolan Jackson Insurance, in partnership with GuideOne, has a special investigation unit that handles these types of cases specifically. Call us today if you suspect fraudulent activity.
