Insurance fraud comes in many forms: arson, staged accidents, owner give-ups, falsified or exaggerated injuries, and healthcare fraud just to name a few. The fact is any form of insurance fraud is a serious crime and it costs consumers billions of dollars annually. Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman recognized the negative financial and emotional impact insurance fraud has caused the citizens of Nebraska by proclaiming April 26th – May 2nd “Insurance Fraud Awareness Week” in the Sate of Nebraska. The proclamation raises awareness of the insurance fraud problem and enlists the support of all Nebraskans in the fight against insurance fraud.
Joining in support of the governor’s proclamation are the Iowa-Nebraska Chapter of the International Association of Special Investigation Units (IA-NE IASIU) Nebraska Department of Insurance Fraud Prevention Division, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), the Coalitional Against Insurance Fraud (CAIF), the National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association (NHCAA), the Eastern Nebraska Anti-Fraud Association (ENAFA) and the Heartland Chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.
In conjunction with the governor’s proclamation, the Iowa-Nebraska Chapter of the International Association of Special Investigation Units (IASIU) is hosting a two day insurance fraud seminar, April 28th – 29th at Mahoney State Park in Ashland NE. Participants will hear from law enforcement and insurance industry experts on the many different kinds of insurance fraud and effective ways to detect and defeat fraud. Members of the news media are welcome at the seminar. For further information, please contact Patrick Yates, President of the IA-NE IASIU at 515-223-9127.
The supporters of Insurance Fraud Awareness Week want to encourage all Nebraskans to help themselves by getting involved with the fight against insurance fraud! For more information about insurance fraud and how you can help fight fraud, visit these websites: www.insurancefraud.org (CAIF), www.nicb.org (NICB), www.nhcaa.org (NHCAA). Nebraskans should report suspected fraud by calling the Nebraska Department of Insurance Fraud Prevention Division at 402-471-8334, the NICB Hotline at 800-TELNICB or their local law enforcement agency.
The following representatives of the organizations supporting Insurance Fraud Awareness Week will be available for comment:
Patrick Yates, President Iowa-Nebraska IASIU, 515-223-9127
Chuck Starr, Division Chief, NE Ins Fraud Prevention Division, 402-471-8334
Louis Saccoccio, Executive Director of NHCCA, 202-349-7990
