New Surveillance Technology Unveiled to Fight No-Fault Auto Fraud in New York City

The latest tools in surveillance technology – “Joey and “Whisper” – are joining the fight against no-fault insurance fraud in New York City, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).

AutoOne Insurance Company of Melville, NY, a Limited Assignment Distribution (LAD) servicing carrier, has donated two recording and monitoring devices to the NICB for use by detectives in the New York City Police Department’s Fraudulent Accident Investigation Squad.

The devices will be deployed in the squad’s undercover investigations of medical mills and other organized criminal operations engaged in insurance fraud in New York City, according to NICB.

One device, named “Whisper”, secretly records conversations, while the other, named “Joey”, records and monitors conversations up to one mile away. Both devices are the size of a stick of gum.

“These new tools will help the NICB and the industry combat the criminal activities of sham medical clinics, corrupt medical professionals, attorneys and others who are ripping off the no-fault insurance system in New York,” said Robert Bryant, president and CEO of NICB. “We commend AutoOne for its valuable contribution to the fight against fraud.”

Insurance fraud in New York’s no-fault system has created a “fraud tax” on auto premiums of reportedly $1 million per day.

“AutoOne is pleased to assist the industry’s efforts to more effectively fight insurance fraud by providing the latest technology to police department detectives who are investigating corrupt medical providers and “runners” who guide accident victims to them,” said Harvey Aloni, AutoOne’s director of Special Investigations.

“Through our partnership with the NICB, we are confident that we can provide long term value towards the industry’s efforts in identifying and prosecuting all forms of insurance fraud while simultaneously impacting and aiding AutoOne’s customers,” added Carey Benson, president and CEO of AutoOne Insurance.