Editor's Note: Beginning this week, the Claims' staff is profiling several speakers who will be dispensing knowledge and offering insights during this year's ACE America's Claims Event, which is being held from June 1-3, 2009, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nev. We begin the coverage by interviewing Joseph Werhle, NICB president and CEO, who will be delivering a keynote presentation on June 2, 2009.
In a time of economic turmoil, many resort to unscrupulous ways to augment their incomes, committing insurance fraud and other criminal acts. As the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reports, there has been a noticeable increase in vehicle arsons, owner give-ups, and theft of precious materials and other goods. Compounding the issue is the fact that criminal rings have become more sophisticated. Thus, the need to recognize prevalent schemes and take measures accordingly has never been more pronounced for insurers and the organizations that support them.
One such organization with a legacy of spreading awareness and immersing itself in anti-fraud initiatives is the NICB. In keeping with its vision, NICB recently implemented an integrated business plan that focuses on five core disciplines: data analytics, investigations, training, legislative advocacy, and public awareness. In a keynote address slated for June 2, 2009, Joseph Werhle, NICB president and CEO, will discuss this integrated plan while helping insurers discern the many unsavory flavors of fraud. Werhle will also examine emerging trends and explore methods to quell fraud.
Mr. Werhle will also touch upon some positive trends, such as the steady decline of vehicle thefts each year.
"As this decline continues, we are increasingly focusing on other areas of insurance fraud, such as medical fraud, cargo theft, and heavy equipment theft," he said.
Since 2002, NICB has established major medical fraud task forces in several cities to attack medical fraud through partnerships with insurance companies, as well as local, state, and federal law enforcement. Additionally, the NICB is involved in health care reform anti-fraud initiatives that are currently underway in Washington D.C.
Among other topics covered will be vehicle identification and recovery, for which NICB has already established a strong reputation. Werhle will highlight specific efforts moving forward, including the organization's involvement and support of bait car or "decoy car" programs, which are used by law enforcement to nab car thieves. These vehicles are customarily equipped with some sort of tracking device and recording capabilities that allow police to remotely monitor the car and its assailant. A bait car may be filled with valuable items and then parked in a high-theft area, unlocked and/or with the key still in the ignition. When the perpetrator steals the car, officers are alerted and are then able to shut off power to the engine and arrest the thief.
"Bait car programs are operating in 28 states, with 253 member company vehicles utilized," Werhle said. "We have also implemented the VINCheck program on our website. This is free to the public and has been very successful. We've led an industry effort to support and implement National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) to facilitate the sharing of data between departments of motor vehicles in all 50 states. This is part of our effort to reduce car thefts and cloning."
To learn more about NICB's initiatives as well as sophisticated criminal rings such as the car-cloning ring recently busted by the FBI -- this ring stole more than 1,000 high end vehicles, cloning their VIN numbers and reselling them in 20 states and several foreign countries -- plan on attending Werhle's session at this year's ACE conference in Las Vegas, Nev. Register by clicking here.
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