On Wednesday, nearly 270 New York law enforcement officials participated in a specialized training on combatting auto insurance fraud at the New York State Police Academy in Albany.
Participants hailed from 55 agencies including the New York State Police, local police departments, sheriff’s offices, university police departments and district attorneys’ offices.
The training, led by the NYS Police and the Department of Financial Services (DFS), was aimed at improving the detection, investigation and prosecution of financial crimes, including auto insurance fraud.
“By equipping nearly 270 law enforcement officers across 55 agencies with specialized tools to detect and prosecute these schemes, we are sending a clear message: deceptive practices will not be tolerated in our state. Dismantling fraudulent networks, holding bad actors accountable, and delivering real economic relief to drivers is imperative,” State Senator Jamaal T. Bailey said.
Participants were given an overview of insurance fraud statutes, case studies and practical instruction on core investigative techniques from the DFS and NYS Police financial crimes and special investigation units.
Gov. Kathy Hochul touted the event as part of her efforts to reduce insurance fraud and lower the cost of auto insurance for New Yorkers. She proposed the symposium in April.
“New York has experienced a sharp increase in suspected incidents of auto insurance fraud and the wave of hardship it has placed on law-abiding vehicle owners,” Hochul said. “Together with our partners, we are enforcing the law, protecting New Yorkers from rising costs, and making it clear that fraud will not be tolerated — anywhere in this state.”
According to the state, insurance carriers reported 43,811 incidents of suspected motor vehicle insurance fraud to the DFS and the Insurance Frauds Bureau in 2025. That was up from 24,238 incidents n 2020, an 80% increase in five years.
Hochul has pushed the state to improve the investigation and prosecution of insurance fraud. Agencies including DFS, State Police, motor vehicles, and criminal justice have been urged to take a more proactive and coordinated approach to enforcement. DFS and NYS Police have added staff focused on auto insurance.
The 2027 state budget includes reform measures to address fraudulent claims and staged accidents that have contributed to high auto insurance costs in the state. As part of these reforms, prosecutors can now seek criminal penalties against any individual responsible for organizing a staged accident, not just the driver.
The reforms also cap damages for those engaging in unlawful behavior at the time of an accident; tighten the statutory definitions of a ‘serious injury;” and limit damages for individuals who are mostly at fault for an accident.
Officials said the specialized training from the symposium will be incorporated into the NYS Police school curriculum for future investigators.
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