Cause and Origin Class Teaches Fraud Investigators and Firefighters Difference Between Accident and Fraud
ALPHARETTA, GA (October 5, 2007) – The Georgia chapter of the International Association of Special Investigation Units, with support from AIG Personal Lines Claims, sponsored a fire origin and cause training class for its members and the Alpharetta, Georgia Fire Department on August 14, 2007.
The goal of this training session was to teach attendees how to evaluate evidence in order to determine the origin and cause of automobile fires. B. R. Thompson, a Certified Fire Investigator and owner of Thompson’s Consulting, lead the instruction for the course.
Thompson used two fire-damaged cars that were donated by AIG Personal Lines Claims to conduct his class. AIG provided video footage of one of the cars being burned so the students could watch the progression of a car fire and see the subsequent damage that was caused. Thompson used the video and conducted examinations of the vehicles to teach attendees how to evaluate evidence in order to determine the origin and cause of the fires.
The training class also involved Thompson showing the attendees the difference between an arson-started car fire and a mechanical malfunction fire. As an example, Thompson discussed how a faulty cruise control switch could have the potential for causing a vehicle fire. He showed attendees where to find the switch on a vehicle and discussed how certain evidence can be located in a burnt vehicle to determine if the defective switch may have been responsible for the fire.
A number of vehicles that are reported stolen and burnt are actually destroyed by owners looking to rid themselves of the car payments and to claim insurance money. Most modern vehicles are extremely difficult, if not impossible for amateur thieves to steal due to the anti-theft devices. This training class provided the opportunity for attendees to learn how to inspect a burnt automobile to determine if it was a legitimate fire or arson and a fraudulent claim.
The GA IASIU is a non-profit organization geared towards insurance employees and law enforcement officers that provides ongoing training, monthly meetings and an annual training seminar for its members. The GA IASIU serves to develop a greater awareness of insurance fraud for its members, while encouraging them to maintain high professional standards in the insurance investigation industry.
Article by Inga Swett |
