RD60 - Annual Report on the Insurance Fraud Program


Executive Summary:
The impact of insurance fraud can be felt on all levels of the Virginia economy. With the exception of tax evasion, no other white-collar crime robs the American economy more than insurance fraud. Not only does insurance fraud raise the premiums of citizens and businesses, insurance fraud also means Virginians pay more for their goods and services, an estimated $1,000 a year.

"Heading into its seventh year, the Insurance Fraud Program and its dedicated personnel are steadily gaining ground in their mission to combat property and injury fraud in Virginia," said Colonel W Steve Flaherty, Virginia State Police Superintendent. "As demonstrated by the program's numbers, our dedicated insurance Fraud special agents and analysts are not only concerned with reducing crime, but also protecting the innocent from falling victim to fraudulent scams."

Over the past six years, the Virginia State Police (VSP) has made great strides in raising the awareness of insurance fraud and its consequences. The establishment of a dedicated program in 1999 has resulted in more than 590 arrests for insurance fraud and other related offenses in just six years. In 2004, the VSP received nearly 1,400notifications of suspected fraud - more than double the number received when the program began in 1999.

"The continuing success of the Insurance Fraud Program is testimony to the effectiveness of public outreach," said Colonel Flaherty. "Thanks to the program's new 'eye-catching' media campaign, Virginians took an active stand against insurance fraud in 2004 with a record 43 percent increase in notifications of suspected fraudulent activity from September to November."

In addition to a record number of notifications 2004 also brought reorganization to the VSP and the creation of the Support Services Division (SSD). This division includes the Insurance Fraud and Help Eliminate Auto Theft (H.E.A.T.) support staffs as well as the Counter-Terrorism & Criminal Interdiction (C.C.I.) unit, and Bomb and Arson. Captain Robert L. Tavenner will oversee SSD, and Lieutenant W Roger Rector will direct the day-to-day operation of what is now the Insurance Fraud Program (IFP). The Insurance Fraud special agents will continue in their current investigative capacities operating out of their field offices. Even though the name has changed, the mission remains the same - to stamp out fraud.