OF&A :: Scientific Dating of Paper Reveals Insurance Fraud

Scientific Dating of Paper Reveals Insurance Fraud

SCIENTIFIC DATING OF PAPER REVEALS INSURANCE FRAUD

OF&A's Consultants uncovered an insurance scam through the use of highly sophisticated dating techniques based on scanning electron microscopy.

The underwriters' suspicions were aroused by the original valuations from a firm of manufacturing jewellers. The valuation, dated June 1995, included all the jewellery belonging to the claimant's mother-in-law. However the evaluators found this suspicious because the claimant's mother-in-law did not live with the insured at the risk address.

OF&A consulted the various paper manufacturers, who confirmed that they retain samples of all products they manufacture. The fibre, colour and texture of the paper that the valuation was written on a closely resembled product being manufactured by a local supplier.

OF&A arranged a detailed chemical analysis of the valuation, and found that the chemical makeup of the document matched the sample from the supplier perfectly. During the analysis, the paper was examined under an electron microscope and the presence of a prismatic inorganic filler, unique to South Africa, was also noted. This information enabled the manufacturer to state that the paper on which the suspect valuation was printed was manufactured during or after 1998, proving conclusively that the valuation dated 1995 was a fake.

OF&A's report to the insurer confirmed that both the insured and the proprietor of the manufacturing jewellers had committed fraud.

As a result of the OF&A team's investigation and the power of scientific tools, the insurance company could refute the claim and has since taken successful legal action, against both the insured and the jeweller.

(Top) Enhanced view of inorganic material aggregate. Mag: 200z/8000x