As of: 29.06.2021 11:02 a.m.
Since the beginning of the corona pandemic, the insurer Allianz has reported more attempted frauds. The company suspects a connection with the financial losses of many traders.
At the largest German insurer Allianz, the number of fraud attempts has increased since the outbreak of the corona pandemic. Overall, their number has increased by around ten percent since the beginning of the pandemic, Allianz Germany announced.
“Worldwide studies assume that between ten and 15 percent of all damage reports are dubious. This also applies to Germany,” said Jochen Haug, CEO of Allianz Versicherungs-AG. According to him, “in times of crisis, attempts at fraud in all sectors” increase.
More traders complain about water damage
The insurer cites water damage reported by commercial customers as an example. Compared to the time before the Corona crisis, around a quarter more such damage was submitted in times of pandemic. The alliance suspects that there could be a connection with the ordered closings in retail or catering. For example, shop owners stated that seasonal goods damaged by the water could no longer be sold.
However, Allianz also recorded an increase in fraud in other areas: fraud cases rose by around ten percent in motor insurance and by around 20 percent in general liability insurance. An increase that can be attributed less to possible financial problems caused by the Corona crisis.
False damage reported in the three-digit million range
Last year, customers of Allianz Versicherungs-AG reported a total of 2.3 million claims, for which the insurer paid more than seven billion euros. Among the damage reports, Allianz identified attempts at fraud, which correspond to a sum in the three-digit million euro amount. The General Association of the German Insurance Industry (GDV) estimates the nationwide damage to the industry at around five billion euros each year.