Most people would prefer not to be a passenger in an auto accident. But fraudsters who engage in “jumping in” go out of their way to get involved in an accident—whether they were there or not.In “jumping in” fraud, one or more individuals falsely claim to have been a passenger in a vehicle that has been involved in a collision with the goal of collecting an insurance settlement.
Crash of Opportunity
Jumping in is often a crime of opportunity, where a legitimate accident is seen as a chance to make money, according to Odie Waters, Hartford Special Investigations Manager.The fraudster, says Waters, “might make a phone call and another carload of people show up. They tell the police they were in the claimant’s car and the insured doesn’t even realize what’s happening. ”The insured might not hear of the inaccurate passenger count until the claim is well underway, and it can be difficult to disprove because the fraudulent account has been legitimized by the police report or payments that have already been made.In some cases, the jumper might not come to the accident scene, but instead add themselves as a passenger when the claim is reported.
The Case of the Yipping Pomeranian
One Hartford insured experienced jumping in when his truck rear-ended an SUV, which then collided with a minivan. The SUV driver was a woman who never got out of the vehicle and left the scene before police arrived. Later, her husband reported to The Hartford that he had been driving the SUV, and that he and his wife had both injured their neck and back. He further claimed that the family dog, also a passenger, had been injured and submitted veterinarian bills. When the insured driver questioned the accuracy of the SUV claim, the case was referred to The Hartford’s Special Investigations Unit. The Hartford’s investigator interviewed the insured driver as well as the driver and passenger of the minivan. He could not speak to either alleged SUV driver as they had enlisted a lawyer, who would not allow them to be interviewed. The other participants confirmed that the woman drove the SUV and that her only passenger was the family dog, a Pomeranian. They remembered this fact clearly because the dog barked incessantly. Faced with this evidence, the husband claimed that the dog had run away from the accident scene and he chased after it; hence, no one saw him there. But the participants clearly remember the presence of the yipping Pomeranian, again disproving the man’s story. The Hartford denied all injury claims.
Creating Opportunities
Fraud rings often create opportunities for jumping in, according to Dan Severin, Hartford Special Investigations Manager. These groups commonly involve lawyers, health clinics and even organized crime. They arrange staged accidents where a driver purposely causes a fender bender. The driver then contacts associates, who arrive at the scene before police and jump in the accident. Alternately, additional passengers can be added when the claim is reported—often by the lawyer.
How The Hartford Fights ‘Jumping In’
With jumping in, the first suspicion often originates with the insured. Our claims handlers are trained to take seriously the concerns of our insureds. When we have reason to suspect fraud, The Hartford investigates the claims histories of the driver and passengers, and we may also investigate the attorney or healthcare clinic. We carefully review the accident and treatment details, and interview witnesses and participants. When fraud is found, we report the case to state and law enforcement authorities as appropriate.
Keeping Jump-Ins Out of a Claim
- If possible after an accident, note the number of people in the other vehicle, as well as their approximate age, gender and seating position.
- Be aware of any vehicles that arrive after the accident, and note the approximate age, gender and physical description of the driver and any passengers. Also note the license plate number if possible.
- Be especially wary if anyone who was not present or involved in the accident talks to the police. Tell the police officer and your claims handler about your suspicions. Provide details on who you observed in the vehicle and any suspicious activities after the accident.
- Carry a disposable camera in the glove box. If safe to do so, discreetly photograph the vehicles, damages and accident participants.
- Keep a notepad in the glove box for taking notes. Collect the names and contact information of witnesses.
- Call police and the insurance company promptly after an accident. If the other driver discourages your client from doing so, it is all the more important to call promptly.
- Tell the claims handler if the accident or details of the claim seem suspicious.
- Call Fraud Hotline of your insurance company.