Britons see insurance fraud as more acceptable during recession

RSA survey reveals that at least 1.4 million Britons think that committing insurance fraud is more acceptable now than 12 months ago because of the challenging economic climate.

4.7 million Britons do not think making a false claim is wrong, one million more than nine months ago Only just over half of those surveyed strongly agree that lying on an insurance claim is wrong

Two pieces of research carried out by the UK's largest commercial insurer, RSA, in March 2008 and January 2009, have suggested that the economic climate could be creating a more lax public attitude towards insurance fraud.

In March 2008, RSA's research showed that a surprising 3.6 million Britons did not think it was wrong to lie on an insurance claim. Having researched the matter again this month, it is clear that the public opinion of insurance fraud has shifted. It now seems that 4.7 million do not think making a fraudulent insurance claim is wrong.

Additionally, 1 in 12 surveyed admitted that their attitude towards committing insurance fraud had changed in the last 12 months with an implied 1.4 million people viewing it to be more acceptable due to factors such as the current economic woes.

A typical example of insurance fraud is failing to disclose motoring convictions or previous claims when applying for cover.

John Beadle, Counter-Fraud Manager at RSA, said, "I am concerned that people are still failing to acknowledge that committing insurance fraud is a serious offence. Many that commit this crime do so in the belief that it is a victimless way to make money but, ironically, they are costing honest customers over £1.6bn a year.

"RSA is working hard both individually and in conjunction with the Insurance Fraud Bureau and the rest of the industry to crack down on insurance fraud. By introducing new sophisticated detection technology, sharing fraudulent case data and working together we believe we are gradually winning the battle and the fraudsters are facing the consequences with the prospect of criminal convictions and the fact that they might find it difficult to obtain insurance cover or other financial services in the future".

For more information on RSA and insurance fraud, please speak to your usual RSA contact, or see our website, www.rsagroup.com

Revellers recall fire horror

THAILAND Survivors have recalled how revellers shoved and trampled on screaming victims to escape the New Year fire at a packed Bangkok club, as police tried to piece together how about 60 people died.

Newspapers carried harrowing accounts of the scenes of panic and fear inside the Santika nightclub in the Thai capital ’s popular Ekkamai district, where more than 200 people including three Australians were also injured in the blaze early Thursday.

Mourners some with coffins of victims in the back of trucks trickled to the club to pray and to give offerings to the dead, while scores of people including foreigners remained in hospital after the tragic night.

Thanawut Santhong, who lost three friends, told the Bangkok Post newspaper that fire broke out within an hour of revellers ringing in the New Year.

He said each guest was given a sparkler to light up during the countdown to 2009, but suddenly smoke engulfed the club and all the lights went out.

"People were in panic after the blackout," he said. "The situation became worse as people screamed fire ’ and tried to escape." He recalled party-goers crying, screaming, pushing and stepping on top of one another as they struggled to steer a way through the few doors out of the club, while flames rained down on people ’s hair and clothes from the ceiling.

Early reports by police suggested the inferno might have been caused by a fireworks display on stage soon after the New Year countdown, but officials said they were still investigating.

"The deputy national police chief chaired a meeting yesterday and laid out guidelines for police to investigate how the fire broke out," said case officer Lieutenant Colonel Prawit Kangwol.

"The assumptions are a short circuit or small fireworks that triggered the fire inside the club." Deputy national police commissioner General Jongrak Jutanont said insurance fraud had been ruled out as a motive but that police had since 2004 refused Santika an operational licence because of safety concerns.

The club management had been seeking an injunction from the administrative court, and was allowed to remain open while the case progressed.

Emergency services headquarters secretary Chatree Charoencheewakul said the latest death toll was 59,~ with 86 of the injured still in hospital. Thirty-eight remain in intensive care. AFP

RM1.2m insurance fraud charge

PETALING JAYA: Three men, including one who is paralysed, were charged at the Sessions Court yesterday with cheating an insurance company of RMI .2 million.
Wong Ngan Nyok, 64, a lamberlack. was charged with cheating officers of Kurnia Insurans (M) Berhad by conviric -ing them that the details on a claim given through two legal firms, T. Rajagopalu & Co and G. Dorai & Co, were true.
The firms were representing Wong ’s employee, K.
Achutan, 42, in an accident claim.
In the claim, Wong had said that Achutan was hit by a lorry driven by another employee, Pang Kee Chong. 63, on July 24, 2004, in Jempol, Negri Sembilan. causing him to become paralysed.
The charge stated that he dishonestly induced the insurance company into paying RMI,175,862.52 as compensation to Achutan on May 9, 2007. following a decision by the Kuala Pilah Sessions Court.
He is alleged to have committed the offence between Sept 22 and Oct 27, 2004, at the insurance company ’s headquarters here.
Pang and Achutan were also charged separately with abetiingWong.
All three pleaded not gui]ty.
Deputy public prosecutor Nur Aida Md Zainudin and Aqeeb Uzalman Nordin prosecuted while Wong and Pang were represented by counsel Suraj Singh. Achutan was represented by counsel Mohd Saufi Samsudin.
Nur Aida proposed bail of RM100,000 each in one surety, saying that the amount in the case was huge and it involved a big company.
Both lawyers pleaded for the amount to be reduced.
Judge Bozina Ayob granted BM3,000 bail each in one surety and ordered them to surrender their passports to the court. She fixed Feb 20 for mention.
K. Achutan being wheeled into the courtroom. He is charged with abetting Wong.

News Straits Times,
Malaysia

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