By Ashleigh Faulhaber and Michele Howley
In 2022 alone, there was $99 billion in insured CAT losses, with upward of 10% or $9.9 billion lost to post-disaster fraud.*
Why Contractor Fraud Awareness Week?
Contractor Fraud Awareness Week, or CFAW, was founded in 2021 when NICB saw a need for a broader industry conversation on the dangers post-disaster fraud posed to the public. CFAW was created as a week dedicated to consumer education through partnering with associations and government officials to provide helpful resources to prevent post-disaster fraud. Our goal, in coordination with industry and government partners, is to equip consumers with the tools needed to spot a bad actor looking to take advantage of their vulnerable situation after a catastrophe.
Highlights from CFAW 2023
NICB’s Communications and Government Affairs teams and field agents partnered with trade associations, insurers, government officials, and news stations across the U.S. to bring attention to contractor fraud using the CFAW campaign as our foundation.
Our Contractor Fraud Twitter Chat, co-hosted with Florida Consumer Advocate (leaders of providing an active voice for Florida's insurance consumers), generated thoughtful conversation around the signs of a fraudulent contractor and how disaster victims can navigate hiring a reputable contractor as they rebuild their homes, businesses, and lives.
Press conferences were held to raise awareness at a state level, and NICB President and CEO David J. Glawe personally spoke to 18 news stations. These interviews reached more than 8.8 million people across the country.
This year, 15 states issued official proclamations to recognize CFAW. These proclamations from officials of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin helped draw attention to contractor fraud awareness and this important issue facing the public.
Join the Movement
Thank you to all our incredible partners who joined CFAW 2023! If you were not able to partner with us this year, save the date for next year’s Contractor Fraud Awareness Week, which will be held May 20–24, 2024. Together, we can help prevent disaster victims from becoming victimized twice.
*Credit: Insurance Information Institute