A telephone service allowing members of the public alert insurance companies to suspected fraud has recieved more than 500 calls, according to the Irish Insurance Federation (IIF).
"Insurance Confidential" received 546 calls from members of the public in its first three months of operation, representing a "resouding success", the IIF said today.
"There is a strong level of interest and support for the Federation's anti-fraud campaign, and a real public desire for action against fraudulent claimants," said IIF Chief Executive Mr Michael Kemp.
"The Insurance Confidential telephone helpline has received reports of insurance frauds from people connected to the suspected fraudster in a number of ways including relatives and friends, neighbours, customers, employers and ex-employers, employees and work colleagues."
The majority of the calls related to motor insurance claims (62 per cent), 23 per cent non-motor related personal injury, eight per cent related to property and other types of claims made up the remaining seven per cent. The IIF said approximately two thirds of the calls were from men.
Mr Kemp added: "In 2003 we estimate that insurance fraud will cost €100 million. This is an unnecessary claims cost facing insurers and is a significant cause of rising insurance premiums for personal and commercial policyholders alike."
