Insurance fraudsters to face over €500 fines

From now on those who lie on insurance claims will be fined 532 euros, the Dutch association of insurers VNV announced on Thursday. The measure is intended to be harsher in tackling insurance fraud and to discourage potential fraudsters from trying their luck, ANP reports.

According to the VNV, the insurers decided to cover their costs on fraud investigations by taking the damages directly from the perpetrator. "It's a tit-for-tat policy. Those who commit fraud, get the bill immediately", VNV director Richard Weurding said.

In addition to a fine, the insurer will also recover wrongly paid money and report the crime to the police.

"Direct accountability on insurance fraud fits the current trend that victims of crime are made more resilient", Minister Ard van der Steur of Security and Justice said. He believes this a good development. "Crime must not pay and aggrieved citizens and businesses should be compensated."