| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 6773 | 2008-09-14 | Statewide | State Police Cracking Down on Insurance Fraud Following Hurricanes |
| LOUISIANA STATE POLICE COURTESY LOYALTY SERVICE Colonel Michael D. Edmonson, Superintendent HEADQUARTERS- NEWS RELEASE State Police Cracking Down on Insurance Fraud Following Hurricanes BATON ROUGE- The Louisiana State Police is collaborating with the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) to combat insurance fraud in the aftermath of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. Fraudulent insurance claims proliferate following major disasters due to the large number of property claims received by the insurance industry. The Louisiana State Police and its Insurance Fraud Task Force partners would like to remind everyone to be cautious during the recovery period following Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. When using contractors, verify proof of liability insurance prior to signing a contract for services. Check with the Louisiana Contractor's Board and your local Better Business Bureau to verify legitimacy and reliability of company. Report any suspicious activity to the Louisiana Attorney General's Office. The Louisiana State Police wants to remind residents that insurance fraud is a felony crime. Some examples of insurance fraud are: · Creating or enhancing damage to property to meet deductibles. · Falsifying proof of loss · Making false statements to an adjuster or claim representative during the claims process in order to obtain payment or coverage. · Fabricating or altering receipts to provide proof of ownership of claimed property. · Fabricating or altering receipts to increase Additional Living Expenses (ALE) benefits. Insurance fraud is a crime that everyone pays for through increased costs of goods and services, as well as increased insurance premiums. The Louisiana State Police would like to encourage anyone who witnesses or knows of someone committing insurance fraud to call the National Insurance Crime Bureau at 1-800-tel-nicb or 1-800-835-6422. The Louisiana State Police Insurance Fraud Unit will vigorously investigate all complaints of insurance fraud in the aftermath of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. For more information contact: Sgt. Markus L. Smith Public Affairs Unit Louisiana State Police – Headquarters Office: (225) 925-6202 markus.smith@dps.la.gov www.LSP.org | |||
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