Fraud Costs Us All
The cost of insurance fraud nationwide for all insurance carriers and their customers is substantial. In fact, the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud estimates that insurance fraud costs Americans $80 billion a year.
While we know that very few claims are fraudulent, we do take our obligation to our customers and shareholders seriously by guarding against the increased costs of fraudulent claims and other insurance transactions.
You Can Help
The Standard is dedicated to the anti-fraud effort through fraud detection, investigation and cooperation with local law enforcement authorities. You can play an important role in that effort.
Check Fraud Alert
The Standard is aware that someone or a group of individuals are circulating fraudulent correspondence containing counterfeit checks appearing to be from “Standard Insurance Company,” “Standard Life Insurance Company” or a similar name. The counterfeit checks may accompany a letter that the recipient has won a lottery, sweepstakes, drawing or similar event.
In some cases, recipients receive a check in connection with a bogus job offer.
The Standard has no affiliation with the individuals or group perpetrating this fraudulent activity. These checks and letters are part of a scheme intended to victimize those who receive them. They are not real checks, and you should not attempt to cash them.
How the Scam Works
In lottery-type scams, the letter accompanying the check tells the recipient that he or she has won a large amount of money and to call a person listed in the letter. That person will instruct the recipient to cash the check enclosed with the letter and then wire a tax payment overseas to release the prize payment. The prize will never arrive and the recipient will eventually have to repay their bank the entire amount of the check cashed. The money wired is typically not recoverable.
In the job offer scheme, the job offer is bogus and the victim receives a counterfeit check that they are instructed to cash and then wire some money. Again, the wired money is typically non-recoverable and the bank will eventually ask the victim to repay the entire amount of the counterfeit check.
Both scams may get the victim to turn over personal identifying information like date of birth, social security number, bank numbers and the like, which may be used to conduct further crimes, such as identify theft, against the victim.
These schemes are often operated out of Canada, England or another foreign country.
If you receive one or hear from friends and neighbors that they have received bogus checks, consider notifying your local police or the US Postal Inspector, or in Canada, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. The Standard's Special Investigations Unit at 800.378.2387 is also available to answer questions if you are unsure if something you received with The Standard's name is legitimate.