Insurers uncover insurance frauds worth CZK 600m in 2009

Prague, Feb 4 (CTK) - Insurers in the Czech Republic detected insurance frauds worth more than Kc600m in 2009, a growth from Kc550m the previous year, the Czech Insurance Association (CAP) told CTK yesterday.

Experts from insurance companies investigated 4,806 insurance claims last year which they suspected of fraud, a drop of 7 percent compared with 2008.

The growth in attempts at insurance frauds was probably related to the economic crisis, a poll carried out by CTK among the largest insurers has shown.

In motor vehicle insurance, insurers investigated around 3,100 suspicious claims, which is 400 fewer in a year-on-year comparison. However, they proved frauds worth almost Kc360m in total, an increase of almost Kc13m.

In property and liability insurance, the number of investigated suspicious claims rose by 38 percent year-on-year to 817. The total value of the claims reached Kc238m in 2009 compared with Kc168m the previous year.