| Massive volumes of Apple's iPhone owners are | | | | roof, but the fraud at the latest launch of the iPhone |
| resorting to iPhone insurance fraud so as to have | | | | 3G-S was simply extraordinary. "The issue looks to |
| their older iPhone device upgraded to the very | | | | be that many iPhone owners can only go for so long |
| hottest device, even if it means risking a criminal | | | | realizing that they're a new release behind the latest |
| record to achieve this, by making completely false | | | | must-have spec before they resort to extreme |
| claims in their insurance claim. | | | | steps.iPhone owners are far more likely to order |
| Specialist iPhone insurance provider in the United | | | | iPhone insurance than owners of other types of |
| kingdom, iPhone Insurance Cover's Administration | | | | mobile phone - Being covered with mobile phone |
| team, said claims for iPhone's hugely spiked by over | | | | insurance is 60% higher among iPhone owners. |
| 45% around the time of the new 3G-S models. | | | | As part of efforts to stop insurance fraud |
| Similar patterns were seen last year, when Apple | | | | Supercover no longer offer loss cover as part of its |
| launched the then new iPhone 3G model. | | | | insurance. This change was because of the huge |
| A new iPhone insurance fraud report shows that | | | | variety and scale of the fraudulent insurance claim |
| close to 4 out of 10 claims created during this time | | | | issue. |
| are most likely false, with many individuals actively | | | | Supercover insurance, who insist claimants send in |
| and deliberately breaking their iPhone so they can | | | | their broken mobile phones as proof of damage, said |
| make a claim and hopefully get the new model. | | | | in numerous cases it was very simple to see claims |
| It is possible that the trend by the UK's network | | | | were not actually genuine. |
| providers to deliver longer contract times such as 18 | | | | As an example, many claims reported the iPhone as |
| and 24 month contracts is to partly exacerbating the | | | | being dropped out of the pocket - but were being |
| problem. "A couple of years ago a consumer could | | | | received as a bag of completely smashed up parts, |
| replace their mobile phone at least every 12 months, | | | | that could only have finished up in this state after |
| currently, clients have to retain them almost twice as | | | | being repeatedly hit with a hammer. |
| long before upgrading, this is not usually appropriate | | | | In fact, many claim reports came back from the Lab |
| for the major fans of the iPhone, with new versions | | | | having been proven to be found with imprint marks |
| coming out every 8 to 12 months, perhaps the | | | | from hammers and stiletto heels! |
| networks need to offer more12 month agreements | | | | Another example - the claimant stated their iPhone |
| again". | | | | was dropped down the toilet. However, laboratory |
| Karmi Corrine of Supercover, claimed: "Whilst most | | | | tests found the iPhone had been left to soak in |
| consumers take out insurance cover simply because | | | | battery acid for around Twenty-four hours, before |
| they value their iPhone, we began to discover boosts | | | | getting flushed with water. |
| in fake claims as new apple iPhone versions were | | | | While it might be great to have the latest iPhone |
| launched, the volumes of claims close to the launch | | | | model it is not really worth a prison sentence or |
| of the iPhone 3G-S was just staggering". We have | | | | criminal record. Supercover sends all suspicious claim |
| often observed quick periods close to new model | | | | details to the Police who take this insurance fraud |
| and upgrade launches, that claims go through the | | | | seriously. |