Recession makes fraud OK

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

The survey found:

• 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
• 1 in 12 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.

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".