New wave of insurance fraud in the Yaroslavl region

Insurance experts and law enforcement officers in many regions of Russia record the growth of organized fraud and its spread beyond CTP into more expensive types of insurance.

According to the All-Russian Union of Insurers and market participants, fraudulent schemes are becoming more complex and the size of potential damage is higher, which increases pressure on the financial stability of insurers and undermines customer confidence in the industry as a whole. The fight against organized criminal groups is becoming one of the main priorities of the insurance market.

“Insurance fraud is becoming more organized and expensive: schemes are shifting to coscos and personal insurance. At the same time, the episodes become less, but the amount of damage increases. About 88-90% of detected fraudulent episodes still account for OSAGO and Casco. However, from 2024, the activity of organized groups is steadily shifting to more expensive segments, where the average payment size is higher and it is more difficult to verify the circumstances of the insured event. At the same time, in many other countries, car damage accounts for about 10% of all fraud cases, and about 90% - damage to life and health. Fraudsters in Russia have begun to move towards such an experience, VSS Vice President Sergey Efremov comments.

Insurance fraud damages not only individual companies, but also the reputation of the entire insurance industry. To prevent illegal payments, insurers are strengthening their control: they check documents more carefully, request additional confirmations and conduct repeated examinations. As a result, resolving many losses becomes longer and more difficult, and customers experience a sense of excessive barriers. The higher the level of fraud, the tougher the checks in general.

At the same time, as experts note, an important component in countering fraudulent schemes is the work of law enforcement officers on applications submitted by insurance companies. Insurers cannot directly apply to the court with a claim to fraudsters, first all the evidence must be checked and confirmed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. This work is not smooth and stable in all regions.

In the Yaroslavl region, the share of opened criminal cases regarding sent applications is 10.8%, while the average for Russia is 31% (data from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026).

In the current conditions, the fight against insurance fraud becomes not only a matter of protecting business, but also an important condition for maintaining citizens' trust in the insurance market, concludes Sergey Efremov.

Information project "Insurance: Public expertise"