PARKVILLE, Md. - (Business Wire) GEICO recently reminded residents of Oak Crest Retirement Village in Parkville, Md., outside of Baltimore, how they could reduce their chances of being targeted in a staged accident or in other types of insurance fraud.
Mike College, manager of GEICO’s Special Investigations Unit, provided tips for drivers to help them spot staged accidents and other fraudulent activities related to phony auto claims:
- Record names of all vehicle occupants, addresses, license plate numbers, witness information, and any other facts you think might be important.
- Keep a disposable camera in your vehicle to take photos of the vehicles involved and the accident scene.
- Do not tailgate — criminals will brake unexpectedly in front of tailgaters to intentionally cause an accident. Look out for vehicles that brake suddenly for no apparent reason.
- Look out for large, older vehicles with three or more occupants. Criminals often crowd into old cars when looking to stage an accident.
- If you suspect an accident has been staged or another type of fraud related to an auto accident, notify your local police.
- To report suspected fraud, contact the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) at www.nicb.org or 1-800-TEL-NICB or contact GEICO’s Special Investigations Unit at 1-800-824-5404 ext. 3313.
College pointed out to residents that staged accidents, unnecessary medical treatments for fake injuries and counterfeit medical mills add up to a multi-billion dollar illegal industry. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) estimates that insurance fraud could cost drivers up to as much as $300 in additional premium each year.
Nancy Pierce, vice president of GEICO’s claims division, said, “We are proud to be part of several national and state task forces that uncover fraud. Jointly we’re pursuing leads on people who are running phony medical mills, billing for non-existent procedures and inflating medical fees. We’ll investigate every claim we get that’s suspect.”
GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) is the third-largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States based on the latest 12 months written premium, and the second largest in Virginia. It provides auto insurance coverage for nearly 8.5 million policyholders and insures more than 14.4 million vehicles.
For more information, go to http://www.geico.com.
GEICO Communications
301-986-3271
