A task force set up by the government to investigate insurance fraud will examine a perception by customers that the industry is fair game.
Frank Carson, head of insurance at the HM Treasury, speaking at a conference on the future of the UK insurance sector (organised by the Westminster Business Forum), said the task force would look at reasons why insurance frauds are so prevalent.
Carson said former law commissioner, David Hertzell, would be chairing the task force looking at the insurance fraud. He said: "He's going to be examining the reasons that insurance frauds seem to be so prevalent and looking at what can be done to tackle the perceptions that insurance is fair game."
On why the public committed insurance scams, he said the claims management industry had a role to play. He said: "Clearly one of the things the task force will be looking at is the role of the claims management industry in creating a climate in which insurers are the place to go to for personal injury claims."
Carson added: "The other part of this is definitely how insurers treat customers in terms of paying out, whether insurers are letting potentially fraudulent claims slip through the net. It's economically sensible to do in the short run but creating a long-term problem."
The creation of the task force was first announced in December.
It was designed to look at three areas: the perception among some consumers that insurance is "fair game"; any practices of those involved in the claims process which fail to deter insurance claims fraud; and legal aspects which could be strengthened to prevent claims fraud.
Its interim findings will be produced by March this year.
