Nearly one of every four Americans says it’s OK to defraud insurers, according to a 2003 survey by the consulting firm Accenture Ltd.
“Most people who commit fraud think of it as a victimless crime. It’s just the insurance industry, and they have plenty of money,” said Frank Dunton, director of investigations for Virginia Farm Bureau. “But it comes back to hurting each one of us who pays insurance premiums.”
Fraud is ranked second behind tax evasion as the most common and costly white-collar crime in the United States. It’s estimated to add between $200 and $1,000 per household per year in additional premiums due to fraudulent insurance claims.
