David J. Rioux, vice president of corporate security at the Erie Insurance Group, was recently honored with the 2011 Fraud Fighter award by the PA Insurance Fraud Prevention Authority (IFPA). Not only has Rioux been an advocate of pre-emptive strikes against insurance fraud for the past 23 years, but serves as Editorial Advisor to Claims Magazine.

Known internationally, Rioux is involved with the Property and Casualty Insurers Association of America where he serves as vice chair of the fraud subcommittee, the national Coalition Against Insurance Fraud where he is a board member, and the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). He is not only advisor to the NICB’s board of governors, but is also an instructor at their training academy.

According to Ralph Burnham, executive director of the IFPA, a collective effort of law enforcement and the SIU communities has contributed to the success in combating insurance fraud across the state of Penn., most notably in 2010. “There was an all-time high of 3,025 fraud referrals to the 12 law enforcement agencies funded by the IFPA. Two-thirds of those referrals came from Special Investigation Unit (SIU). David’s work has contributed immeasurably to the good reputation that SIU enjoy nationwide and internationally.”