6 examples of insurance fraud

Countless examples of insurance fraud can be cited. However, some fraudsters do not see what they do as insurance fraud. It sometimes seems like just something small and harmless. Yet you had better be careful, because there are major consequences to committing fraud. There are different types of insurance fraud, for example:

  • Lying or concealing when applying for insurance
  • Intentionally causing damage
  • Claiming more damages than actually suffered
  • Pretending harm or distorting the facts

To clarify exactly what insurance fraud is, we give you 6 examples of insurance fraud below.

#1 Adjust your insurance coverage, vbefore you claim

A clear example of insurance fraud is adjusting your insurance coverage before you claim. Suppose you drive into a pole and have a big dent in your car. With your WA + limited casco car insurance, damage to your own car is not covered. Therefore you quickly increase the coverage to WA + full body, before you claim the damage. Then damage to your own car by your own fault will be compensated and you will receive a damage payment from your insurer. So you claim an old damage on the new coverage.

#2 Lying or withholding information on an insurance application

It seems like such a small thing, answering a question with "No" that you should actually answer with "Yes. However, the insurer asks these questions for a reason. An insurer wants to get a clear and complete picture of exactly who and what they are insuring. That is why they always ask a number of underwriting questions of a policyholder before deciding whether or not to accept the application. An insurance contract is based on trust. If you withhold information or lie on your insurance application, the insurer cannot trust you to follow the insurance rules. You are deliberately misleading the insurer, hoping they will accept your insurance application. This is considered a form of insurance fraud.

#3 A collision or burglary in scscene

Another example of insurance fraud is staging a collision or burglary for the purpose of pocketing insurance money. It is up to the insurer to prove that it was staged. In some cases, this is not difficult, such as if a window was smashed from the inside or if there were accomplices who were willing to talk. Did a staged collision or burglary put other people in danger? If so, the punishment may be more severe than you think.

insurance fraud examples

#4 Report something that is broken as stolen

Did you accidentally drop your cell phone to pieces? If so, you may be considering reporting it as stolen to your insurer. Then it will be covered by your household insurance and you will receive compensation. We are using a cell phone as an example now, but it is also common for a car or laptop to be reported as stolen when it is not. If the insurer conducts an investigation and finds your cell phone, laptop or car simply in the house or garage, you have a problem. Because then you will be registered as a fraudster and you will have problems getting insurance from now on.

Taking out De Vereende household contents insurance? Calculate your premium!

#5 Report more items than were actually stolen

Suppose your home has been broken into. A number of items have been stolen, such as a television and an iPad. It is then very tempting to list an extra cell phone or some jewelry as stolen when filing the claim. After all, things have been broken into anyway. Unfortunately, this is really a form of insurance fraud. Individuals who do this are seen as "opportunistic" fraudsters.

#6 Immediately claim a few old dents in your car when reporting car damage

Due to a collision, you have a number of dents in your car. There are some older dents that you have never had done anything about. When reporting the car damage , you decide to declare all the dents. Are you then committing insurance fraud? Yes, because you are abusing the situation to benefit yourself. Those dents happened before and therefore you are not entitled to compensation for them.

Calculate your insurance premium online!

We can be reached via chat, WhatsApp, phone or email

Questions? Contact us if you want to know more.
We are here Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 18:00.

Get in touch