Okla. to Host Anti-Fraud Conference

Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland has initiated a new anti-fraud conference to educate law enforcement and insurance investigators about the latest criminal trends in fraud, the insurance department announced. This seminar, the first in a series, will take place on Feb. 16, 2006, and will feature nationally recognized law enforcement and fraud investigators.

“We have seen a dramatic increase of insurance fraud in Oklahoma and across the nation,” said Commissioner Kim Holland. “Unfortunately, everyone pays for insurance fraud in the form of higher premiums. This seminar is just one of the many ways that we are working to put an end to insurance fraud and related scams.”

The Insurance Fraud Detection and Prevention Seminar will take place from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Oklahoma Insurance Department, 2401 N.W. 23rd St. (Shepherd Mall), in Oklahoma, City.

The seminar agenda features lectures on identity theft, money laundering, and hand writing analysis, among other topics. There will be discussions led by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Treasury. In addition, speakers will include the Oklahoma Insurance Department General Counsel Michael Ridgeway and Marc Pate, Oklahoma Assistant Attorney General.

This one-day event represents the beginning of a series of seminars aimed at improving awareness of fraud among law enforcement and the insurance industry. It will highlight the latest trends and changes in law impacting the prevention and detection of fraud.

The Anti-fraud Division of the Oklahoma Insurance Department gained law enforcement status in 2005. Their efforts retrieved more than $2.3 million dollars for the insurance industry and consumers in the last year alone.

“It is my hope that this seminar will increase awareness and build better relationships among law enforcement agencies to improve our ability to stop insurance fraud,” said Michael Ridgeway, Oklahoma Insurance Department General Counsel.

Holland encourages any interested member of law enforcement or the insurance industry to attend this seminar. Individuals can find out more information or enroll by calling the Insurance Department at (405) 521-6614 or toll free (800) 522-0071, or online at www.oid.state.ok.us.