Insurers mine social networks for fraud

[The Straight Story]

CHICAGO, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- Insurance companies are using Facebook and other social networking sites to find evidence of fraud, although experts say they are cautious.
Peter Foley, vice president of claims at American Insurance Association, said investigators should automatically do "a quick scan of social media to check for contradictions," the Chicago Tribune reports. Foley said, however, that a Facebook picture of someone claiming disability running a race is a signal to investigate further, not automatic proof of dishonesty.

Nathalie Blanchard of Quebec learned the hard way about what can happen. She had taken a leave of absence from IBM because of severe depression and then lost her benefits after investigators for Manulife Financial Corp. found pictures of her on Facebook on a beach and drinking at a pub.

Blanchard is now suing to get her benefits reinstated. Her lawyer, Tom Lavin, said people tend to present a rosy picture on Facebook.


http://www.1310wdtw.com/cc-common/news/sections/lifestylearticle.html?feed=104774&article=8089272

[Uben]

1. Another good reason I don't do social networking.....

I wonder how many more industries are catching on?

[Initech]

2. I don't use it either, and this is another good reason not to.

[TwilightGardener]

4. Third here--better to remain anonymous and private.

[barbiegeek]

3. I'm sure employers do it

[damntexdem]

5. This is only one more reason why I only do antisocial non-networking.

Well, OK, why I don't do social networking. ;-)

But how do they know that she wasn't depressed on the beach, smiling though the tears? And, of course, drinking in a bar is a well-known response to being depressed.