Minnesota insurance fraudsters can be criminally charged

Minnesota insurance fraudsters are going to have to get sneakier. As of August 1, the state Department of Commerce can dole out large civil fines against fraudsters, criminally charge them and kick them out of the insurance system. The Coalition Against Insurance Fraud says that should allow the agency to move swiftly on its own rather than wait for the often slow-moving criminal justice system.

At a recent conference, Howard Goldblatt, the coalition’s director of government affairs, recommended Nebraska’s fraud fighters take a page from Minnesota and Maryland, which both allow the fraud bureaus to levy civil fines against fraudsters, regardless of whether criminal charges are considered. Nebraska currently allows for civil fines but only as an alternative to criminal charges.

This story was originally published by Canadian Insurance Top Broker.