Quake victims urged to report fraud

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Quake victims urged to report fraud

3News NZ

Adam Feeley says fraud often occurs after natural disasters and there is no reason to believe the situation in Christchurch will be any different

Adam Feeley says fraud often occurs after natural disasters and there is no reason to believe the situation in Christchurch will be any different

Departing Serious Fraud Office (SFO) chief executive Adam Feeley is urging people to report fraud in earthquake-damaged Christchurch so any problems can be tackled early.

He says fraud often occurs after natural disasters and there is no reason to believe the situation in Christchurch will be any different.

"It's incredibly important that we don't mop up afterwards and we act now," he told TV3's The Nation programme today.

"The problem is at the moment we're not sure what the problem is but we have every reason to believe, unless New Zealand is some unique anomaly in the world, that post-natural disaster you have fraud and you have fraud on quite a big scale," he said.

His remarks come after the Insurance Council warned that fraud from the Christchurch rebuild could total more than $1 billion.

After Hurricane Katrina, fraud ranged from exaggerated insurance claims to collusion between contractors to identity theft.

Peter Dent, a Deloitte partner from Canada, last week warned of the potential for fraud when systems were overwhelmed by claims.

Mr Feeley said the SFO wanted people to speak up and it would use intelligence information more cleverly.

Mr Feeley has been with the SFO since 2009 and is moving to be Queenstown Lakes District Council chief executive.

NZN

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Comments

24/09/2012 1:39:39 p.m.

@Longtack wrote:

@Longtack. Insurance companies are some of the worst fraudters - they take people's money year after year and when people need help they find 101 excuses why not to pay out. Remember the case of Dr Linda Peeno re the US health insurance industry. SHOCKING. Fraud works both ways and insurance companies need to look at themselves, with all the dirty tricks they pull on vulnerable people.

24/09/2012 8:01:30 a.m.

Longtack wrote:

My first job was in the insurance industry, and 70% of claims had an element of fraud. One is either honest or not - and most people are dishonest. If they see a way to make money for free then most will make the most of the opportunity. The previous two passionate are off-topic and wrong.

22/09/2012 9:40:26 p.m.

Bill wrote:

Maybe start with EQC and the corrupt inspectors they bought over from Australia, then go onto the thieving Corporate Fletchers for trying to rip off local tradies. The biggest fraud is being committed by the Government.

22/09/2012 7:26:09 p.m.

govt oppression wrote:

Another witch hunt by a govt agency. So we have had ACC victimizing and exiting claimants through jacked up medical reports (isn't that GOVT fraud????) TO CUT COSTS, then we've had Paula Bennett hitting out at beneficiaries TO CUT COSTS, then we've had Hekia Parata taking an axe to Chch kids, parents and teachers TO CUT COSTS, and now we have the SFO wanting people to become govt informers TO CUT COSTS! Where does it end?