In this business, we are intimately familiar with liars and their fibs and foibles, which are anything but pretty. Presumably registering high on narcissistic personality traits, some of them find a comfortable place in today's culture of oversharing. Moreover, inadequate prosecutorial resources seem to embolden these liars, who, under the perceived impunity of social media, tout exploits as if to taunt insurance carriers and law enforcement agencies alike.

The Coalition's yearly roundup is a testament to scammers' brazen cunning, with their naiveté and recklessness often portrayed in nearly equal measure on Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites. To thwart opportunistic fraud and address the proliferation of organized crime rings, P&C insurers must employ an arsenal of investigative techniques. As a growing number of claims managers and SIU directors can attest, multi-layered approaches to fraud tend to produce the most encouraging results, with social media as a key ingredient in investigative success.

Sleuthing Or Snooping?
Social media in claims investigations is certainly not a novel idea, though its application is continually being refined. However, this veritable investigative goldmine—which can provide clues as to a claimant's connections, background, education, and whereabouts—is not without its caveats, including privacy concerns for which there is a growing body of case law.