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[STK]
[IN] INS
[SU] LAW NPT JVN
TO LEGAL AFFAIRS, AND NATIONAL EDITORS:
Cook County State's Attorney's Office and NICB to Focus on Insurance
Fraud Prosecutions
DES PLAINES, Ill., March 31, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Cook
County State's Attorney's Office and the National Insurance Crime
Bureau (NICB) are joining forces to create a coordinated
public-private partnership to crack down on the growing problem of
insurance fraud in the Chicago area.
As part of the joint venture, the State's Attorney's Office is
dedicating a team of prosecutors who will focus exclusively on the
proactive investigation and prosecution of insurance crimes. These
prosecutors will work closely with NICB investigators and the NICB's
newly created Midwest Major Medical Fraud Task Force to seek criminal
actions against those who target insurance companies and the public
with phony or exaggerated claims.
The special prosecutors' arrangement is modeled on similar successful
efforts in other cities where NICB has established Major Medical Fraud
Task Forces. The first two were opened in Miami and New York in 2002
and others operate in Houston, Los Angeles, New Jersey, Tampa and
Washington, D.C.
"Insurance fraud is a significant problem across the country that
directly impacts responsible consumers who are forced to pay higher
insurance premiums as a result of these thefts and schemes," said Cook
County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez. "We are excited to be able to
work with the NICB, its member companies and our law enforcement
partners in this coordinated effort on behalf of consumers to attack
this rising crime."
"We applaud the Cook County State's Attorney for partnering with us in
this effort," said NICB President and CEO Joe Wehrle. "NICB has been
fighting insurance fraud and vehicle theft for more than 100 years,
and we know that our efforts can only be successful if we have the
support of our law enforcement partners and dedicated prosecutors who
share our mission."
Anyone with information concerning insurance fraud or vehicle theft
can report it anonymously by calling toll-free 800-TEL-NICB
(800-835-6422), texting keyword "fraud" to TIP411 (847411) or
submitting a form on our website. Or, download the NICB Fraud Tips app
on your iPhone or Android device.
About the National Insurance Crime Bureau: headquartered in Des
Plaines, Ill., the NICB is the nation's leading not-for-profit
organization exclusively dedicated to preventing, detecting and
defeating insurance fraud and vehicle theft through data analytics,
investigations, training, legislative advocacy and public awareness.
The NICB is supported by more than 1,100 property and casualty
insurance companies and self-insured organizations. NICB member
companies wrote $350 billion in insurance premiums in 2012, or more
than 78 percent of the nation's property/casualty insurance. That
includes more than 93 percent ($160 billion) of the nation's personal
auto insurance. To learn more visit www.nicb.org.
With nearly 900 attorneys and more than 1,500 employees, the Cook
County State's Attorney's Office is the second largest prosecutor's
office in the nation, second only to Los Angeles County. The Assistant
State's Attorneys in the office prosecute all misdemeanor and felony
crimes committed in Cook County. In addition to direct criminal
prosecution, the office files legal actions to enforce child support
orders, protect consumers and the elderly from exploitation, and
assists thousands of victims of domestic violence every year.
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SOURCE National Insurance Crime Bureau
-0- 03/31/2014
/CONTACT: Sally Daly, Cook County State's Attorney's Office, sally.daly@cookcountyil.gov, 312-603-1839; Frank Scafidi, NICB, fscafidi@nicb.org, 916.979.1510
/Web Site: www.nicb.org
CO: National Insurance Crime Bureau
ST: Illinois
IN: INS
SU: LAW NPT JVN
PRN
-- DC93372 --
0000 03/31/2014 10:00:00 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com
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