Media Center
Welcome to the NYAAIF Media Center
Welcome to the New York Alliance Against Insurance Fraud (NYAAIF) Media Center—your go-to resource for timely news, expert commentary, research, and educational materials on insurance fraud across New York. As the state's leading voice in the fight against insurance fraud, NYAAIF provides journalists, policymakers, industry professionals, and consumers with credible information, data, and expert perspectives on emerging fraud trends, consumer protection, and fraud prevention. Whether you are a journalist covering breaking news, a policymaker seeking reliable information or a consumer looking to better understand fraud risks you will find timely credible information here.
Media Inquiry? Let’s Connect.
Our experts are available to provide commentary on insurance fraud trends, legislative developments, consumer protection issues, artificial intelligence-enabled fraud, disaster-related scams, and other emerging topics.
For all media inquiries and speaking engagement requests, contact:
Kim Lehman | press@fraudny.com
About New York Alliance Against Insurance Fraud (NYAAIF)
Founded in 1999, the New York Alliance Against Insurance Fraud (NYAAIF) is a nonprofit coalition of more than 100 insurance companies (https://www.fraudny.com/member-companies) dedicated to preventing insurance fraud through public education, collaboration, and consumer awareness. Created to help insurers meet New York State's anti-fraud education requirements, NYAAIF has grown into one of the state's leading voices on insurance fraud prevention.
Through statewide public awareness campaigns, media outreach, consumer education, research, and partnerships with industry and government agencies, NYAAIF reaches millions of New Yorkers each year with information that helps consumers recognize, prevent, and report insurance fraud. Guided by a Board of Directors representing its member organizations, the Alliance continues to advance its mission of reducing fraud, protecting consumers, and strengthening the integrity of New York's insurance system.
Insurance Fraud Fast Facts
Insurance fraud costs the U.S. economy $308.6 billion every single year.
Insurance fraud costs every New Yorker—regardless of age—more than $920 each year in higher insurance premiums and the increased cost of everyday goods and services.
Insurance Fraud adds about $1,000 annually to the insurance premiums of an average American family.
New York consistently ranks among the states with the highest number of suspected insurance fraud referrals each year.
Honest policyholders ultimately pay for fraud through higher insurance premiums.
Healthcare fraud makes up over $100 billion of total annual losses, often through billing for services never rendered.
Over 20% of auto insurance claims involve some form of padding or exaggeration, which is a felony offense.
Following major natural disasters, property insurance fraud spikes by 10% to 15% due to unlicensed "storm chaser" contractors.
Insurance companies catch over 80% of fraudulent claims using AI algorithms that analyze social media data and metadata.
Insurance fraud can result in criminal charges, fines, restitution, and imprisonment.
48 states make insurance fraud a specific crime.
More than 2.8 billion scam and telemarketing calls are made on average each month.
Infographics
Meet Our Spokespersons
Kevin O’Connor
Kevin is the founder and current Chairman of the New York Alliance Against Insurance Fraud. He is a Certified Insurance Fraud Investigator (CIFI) and a Fraud Claims Law Specialist (FCLS) and has worked in the SIU field for over 30 years. Kevin is currently employed with Erie Insurance, managing fraud investigations for the southern area of NYS, including the Hudson Valley region, NYC, and Long Island. His extensive experience includes starting the first SIU program for the NYS Liquidation Bureau while at the NYS Ins Dept (now DFS). He is a past instructor for the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s (NICB) Special Investigation Academy and has presented at numerous insurance fraud conferences.
Francis X. (Frank) Sztuk
Frank is the Senior Vice President/Investigative Services for the Delta Group. His fraud fighting career began in 1972 as a police officer in NJ. He came to Delta after a rewarding 36-year career with the Hanover Insurance Company, where he developed the Special Investigation Unit Program at that company. He retired as the National SIU Strategist, responsible for oversight of one of the leading anti-fraud programs in the industry. He served on many boards and councils in his career, most notable being a past-Chair of the Massachusetts Insurance Fraud Bureau Governing Board. He is also a former Chair of the national Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, and still retains an advisory seat on the executive committee of CAIF. He is a past chair of the NY Alliance Against Insurance Fraud, where he still chairs the Public Outreach Committee of that organization. He sat on the NJ Insurance Commissioner’s Fraud Advisory Board and the NJ Insurance Council Anti-Fraud Committee. He has lectured both nationally and internationally on the subject of insurance fraud and continues to present at various programs such as the ISO/NICB Insurance Fraud Management Conference, Florida Insurance Fraud Education Conference, the IASIU annual fraud conference, NJSIA Annual Fraud Conference as well as numerous local, state and national anti-fraud programs.
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