…health insurers, who are using social media to uncover evidence of insurance fraud — evidence published by the fraudsters themselves. For example, The Los Angeles Times quotes Frank Scafidi, spokesman for the National Insurance Crime Bureau: “They look out for things that don’t add up, like someone who claimed they hurt their back too badly to work and then bragged on Facebook about running a marathon.” In fact the social media gambit is so widespread now that it is becoming standard; the LAT also cites Peter Foley, vice president of claims administration at American Insurance Assn., who says fraud investigators might be judged negligent if they don’t take at least a cursory glance at social media “to check for contradictions.”

via MediaPost Publications Insurance Companies Use Social Media to Look for Fraud 01/25/2011.