Most people would defraud insurers

Two-thirds of Britons would make a dishonest insurance claim if they thought they could get away with it, a survey has revealed.

Honest policyholders pay the price for insurance cheats, which is why the industry is committed to redoubling its efforts to reduce the scale of the problem

Mary Francis of the ABI

Fraudulent claims submitted to insurers on general insurance policies now mount to more than £1bn a year, according to the report by the Association of British Insurers (ABI).

Insurers are investing more money in better fraud detection methods to combat the losses.

One insurer is introducing lie detector technology.

Growing problem

ABI estimates that about 10% of motor and 15% of household claims submitted are fraudulent.

Mary Francis, director general of the ABI said: "Our message to cheats if that fraud is a crime, and it is now more likely to be exposed than ever before."

People's attitude to insurance fraud

69% would make a dishonest claim if could get away with it

49% believe most people inflate the value of the claim one third or more

76% agreed that fraud is common in making insurance claims

"Honest policyholders pay the price for insurance cheats, which is why the industry is committed to re-doubling its efforts to reduce the scale of the problem. "

New crackdown measures:

Pooling of resources between insurers.

Developing a single anti-fraud database.

Increased liaison between government and police.