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Insurance Fraud. Recognize, Report, Reduce

Insurance fraud costs consumers in the U.S. between $80-120 billion each year, equaling about $950 per family annually. It is the second most profitable crime in the U.S. behind only illegal drug sales.

Recognize Insurance Fraud

Examples of insurance fraud include but are not limited to:

  • Deliberate attempts to stage an accident, injury, theft, arson or another type of loss that would be covered under an insurance policy (e.g., setting fire to your home)
  • Exaggerating a legitimate claim (e.g., doubling the value of stolen jewelry)
  • Knowingly omitting or providing false information on an insurance policy application (e.g., purchasing a policy for a previously damaged vehicle and omitting the damage in the application to file a claim at a later date)

 

 

Report Insurance Fraud

If you witness someone committing insurance fraud, or suspect someone doing so, please report it to the North Dakota Insurance Department.  Our team of investigators will review the report and conduct an investigation, if necessary.  Appropriate steps, including legal action, may be taken.

Department investigators regularly work closely with multi-jurisdictional task forces, state and federal agencies, fire departments, local law enforcement, insurance companies, and the public to identify, investigate and prosecute insurance fraud.

 

 

Reduce Insurance Fraud

A common misconception about insurance fraud is that it is a victimless crime, however, that couldn't be further from the truth. Insurance fraud doesn't just negatively affect insurance companies - it touches all North Dakotans. The Fraud Investigation Division of the North Dakota Insurance Department is working to reduce, and even eliminate, the practice of insurance fraud in the State.

In our efforts, we actively communicate with the public on how to Recognize, Report, and Reduce insurance fraud through multiple channels, including speaking engagements.  If you would like a representative of the Department to speak to your group, please contact us.

 

 

North Dakota Fraud Referral Statistics

 

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

Insurance Fraud Cases

235

265

339

302

272

269

Declined by prosecutor

1

0

0

0

3

0

For information only

31

36

45

40

125

41

Investigative criteria not met

105

86

135

137

331

13

Jurisdiction

22

44

28

39

108

59

No evidence of a crime

22

33

77

42

167

75

Prosecuted

8

18

6

7

18

6

Prosecution not appropriate

17

20

4

5

10

2

Statute of limitations

6

6

5

4

13

1

Unable to prove beyond a reasonable doubt

24

21

31

18

82

31

Open

0

0

8

10

56

41

Amount of actual loss

$148,616.86

$140,473.66

$1,189,788.05

$626,792.64

$1,084,722.70

$384,671.17

If you suspect that a fraudulent insurance act is occurring, or has occurred, please contact the Department. Individuals can report fraud online through the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Online Fraud Reporting System (preferred method) or submit a Uniform Suspected Insurance Fraud Reporting form (SFN 58333).