Reducing the Rate of Insurance Fraud Through Surveillance

Keeping close watch over someone or something that appears suspicious could have devastating consequences if not carried out by experts ; especially when the suspects can go to any length to prevent infringement of personal space. However, the successful engagement of a surveillance assignment could save victims from spending outrageous amounts of money and resources, especially in fraudulent activity involving vehicular accidents/property casualties.

Many vehicles/equipment with insurance coverage are quite expensive and can be difficult to repair or replace. A company that insured its vehicles against road accidents, and unfortunately the vehicle gets involved in an accident of which the company is usually not financially ready to repair or replace. This situation might drive the claimants to make unreal claims in order to avert the cost. A private investigator is therefore paramount to ensure that the claims are truly within the clause of the insurance contract.

The driver of the vehicle, for instance was involved in the accident outside of official duties and had been drinking. The driver then gives claims that the accident took place

during an official duty, and he was totally out of ideas as the situation looked unavertable, all in an attempt to make the insurance company fully responsible for the replacement of the vehicle. The private investigator is now faced with a huge task of tracking eyewitnesses, asking relevant questions, taking footage of the driver’s daily routine and how much of alcoholic content is consumed on daily basis. All subjects/claimants are not always ticketed in these types of scenarios.

The entire investigation process is time consuming but, in the end, can be very cost effective for the Insurance company based on the statements of people who witnessed the accident as well as the parties involved.
By the same token when questioned by a professional and experienced Investigator and asking relevant questions they may detect untrue statements and forged answers. The driver at fault could compromise/scheme with the other party involved in the accident to turn matters to his advantage. This will pose as a more critical issue, and the questions that will be required to bring out the actual event should not be standard ones/boiler plate that one might expect but more difficult ones that the subject will have difficulty to maneuver from the truth.

Surveillance post-accident might also be required to identify the driver’s daily routine. Where he usually goes at the actual time of the accident (and this could also take time as the driver might temporarily suspend his routine). Why he goes there and what he does there. The conclusions gotten from the footage will justify if the driver was really on official duty as claimed. This particular aspect of the investigation must be carried out with caution as the driver might claim an infringement on his personal space; and it sure has the capacity to sabotage the whole investigation process.

Employing unusual efforts to correctly detect the amount of alcoholic content the driver consumes daily is also time consuming. This could take the private investigator to places where the driver is usually found consuming alcoholic contents. Evidences to show the average amount of alcohol consumed on daily basis would also be needed. And most times, the private investigator would find himself questioning anyone who can offer concrete information on the driver’s daily routine.
When the entire surveillance process is concluded, and the evidence produced is well organized to prove that the driver was truly at fault then the insurance company shouldn’t be made to embrace the financial responsibility. The genuine profitability of employing a private investigator/surveillance operator will be more appreciated.

So, when next you suspect a claim involving accidents to be fraudulent, don’t hold back in employing a seasoned investigator who is experienced in the art of surveillance.

http://www.csi-securesolutions.com/the-art-of-surveillance/

 

About the Author

Chris Cavallo has been in the Security and Investigations Industry for 40 + years and is considered an expert in various areas such as background investigations and conducting complex surveillance operations. He has done business on every continent either through with his own companies or through the partnerships that he has developed and maintained during his professional career.

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