South Carolina Sets Insurance Fraud Conviction Record

South Carolina officials secured more insurance fraud convictions in 2008 than ever before. The 135 convictions total reported by the state attorney general’s insurance fraud division was 44 percent more than in 2007 and the most since the unit was created in 1994, according to a new report from the office of Attorney General Henry McMaster.

During 2008, there was an increase in the number of insurance fraud complaints to 815, compared to 712 in 2007. The type of fraud complaints varied as follows:

• Automobile – 57% (463)
• Personal/Commercial Property – 12% (98)
• Worker’s Compensation – 11% (87)
• Health/Medical – 11% (83)
• Disability – 4% (29)
• Life Insurance – 3% (23)
• Premium – 2% (20)
• Other – 1% (12).

Officials said more people are resorting to insurance fraud due to the bad economy.

The Attorney General’s Insurance Fraud Division receives referrals from the Department of Insurance, the South Carolina Worker’s Compensation Commission, insurance companies, private citizens, law enforcement agencies, as well as attorneys and private law firms throughout the state.