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1. "A lot of people making fraudulent claims on their travel insurance are first time fraudsters, and don't realise how serious it is to make a false claim," says Simon Cook, Head of Special Investigations at claims management and assistance company, CEGA. 2. "Making a false travel insurance claim can result in a criminal record, which would make it very difficult, for instance, to take out any sort of insurance policy in the future - and that includes car and household insurance," says Simon Cook. "In a worst case scenario, it could lead to a prison sentence." 3. Top of the list of fraudulent travel insurance claims? "It's common for someone who has suffered a genuine loss to add a few noughts to the value of that loss - a Sekonda watch might become a Rolex for instance," says Malcolm Tarling of the Association of British Insurers. "Exaggerated losses, false claims for lost baggage and fictitious medical treatment are among the most common fraudulent claims," adds Simon Cook. 4. "If a false travel insurance claim is submitted but withdrawn after having second thoughts, it can still lead to a prosecution for fraud," says Simon Cook. 5. "Insurers will check every detail of a dubious claim; from the authenticity of a doctor's bill handed out on the other side of the world, to the validity of a witness statement in a foreign language," says Simon Cook. "Cognitive interviewing techniques, investigation by overseas agents and medical assessments may all be used to assess the honesty of a suspicious claim." 6. "Fraudulent travel insurance claims put up the cost of everyone's insurance premiums," says Simon Cook. "In other words, innocent travellers foot the bill for fraudulent claims." Read full article

The Watchdog is still in vacation mode. I just got back from a family trip to Florida. We had a blast. This is the time of year when your mind may be on vacations, too. If you're looking ahead to a lazy summer trip, don't relax too much because unfortunately, scammers will hound you while you plan and even follow you on the road, too. The state attorney general's office recently warned about travel scams, a few of which were news to me. One involves pizza deliveries, of all things. Who hasn't had a craving for pizza after checking into a hotel in an unfamiliar city where you don't want to hunt for a decent place to chow down. You pick up the menu that's conveniently been slipped under your door and order away. The scam is that the menus have a phone number that connect with an identity thief, not a pizza parlor. You won't get your large pie, and the thief will live large by running up charges on the credit card you provided for payment. The attorney general's office recommends contacting the hotel's front desk or concierge for take-out suggestions. You also can look on your smartphone or in the phone book. Speaking of phones, if your hotel room phone rings in the middle of the night and the caller identifies himself as the front desk needing to verify your credit card, hang up.