Real Insurance Adjuster vs Fake Claim Scam
How to verify that contact from an insurance adjuster is genuine and not part of a fraudulent scheme to extract money or personal information.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Insurance adjusters are a normal part of a claim. After you report damage, your insurer arranges an inspection, usually confirming the appointment in writing, and the person who arrives can identify themselves and be verified with one phone call. Fraud in this space works because it arrives at the worst possible moment. After a storm, a fire, or a crash, people are unsettled, often displaced, and dealing with a process they do not know, so someone offering to take it off their hands is a relief. The approach may be an unexpected knock, a call about a claim you have not filed, or an offer to fast-track a payout for a processing fee. The dividing line is direction of money and verifiability: a real adjuster never charges you, and never objects to being checked.
Side-by-side comparison
| Genuine insurance adjuster | Fake claim or adjuster scam | |
|---|---|---|
| Initiation of contact | Contact follows a claim you filed, or is expected because you reported an incident to your insurer | Unsolicited contact from someone who 'happened to be nearby' or learned about your loss through social media or a third-party lead |
| Credentials | Adjuster provides a full name, employee ID, and the name of the insurance company; you can verify by calling the insurer directly | Reluctant to provide verifiable credentials; gives only a mobile number and a company name you cannot verify independently |
| Advance payment requests | Genuine adjusters never ask you to pay upfront fees to process, expedite, or release a claim | Requests a processing fee, administrative charge, or deposit to unlock your claim payout |
| Settlement pressure | Provides a written estimate and allows you time to review before signing; advises you of your right to dispute | Pressures you to sign a quick settlement immediately, often for less than your actual entitlement, in exchange for fast cash |
| Payment method for your payout | Payments are issued via official insurer cheque, EFT to your verified account, or directly to contractors — following your insurer's documented process | Offers cash, asks you to cash a cheque and return a portion, or requests your bank account details verbally without documentation |
Common red flags
- Adjuster contacts you before you have filed a claim or when you were not expecting contact
- Request for any upfront fee to process, release, or expedite a claim
- Pressure to sign a settlement immediately without time to review
- Unable to provide verifiable credentials or insurer contact details
- Asks for bank account or payment details over the phone without a documented process
Verification steps
- Call your insurance company directly using the number on your policy documents to confirm the adjuster's identity and that a claim visit is scheduled
- Ask the adjuster for their company ID and look up the insurer's phone number independently to verify
- Never sign any settlement, assignment of benefits, or release of liability without reading it fully and understanding the terms
What not to do
- Do not pay any upfront fee to an adjuster in exchange for claim processing or release of funds
- Do not sign over your claim rights (assignment of benefits) to a third party you cannot independently verify
- Do not provide bank account details verbally to someone who contacts you without advance notice from your insurer
A safe response
You are allowed to slow the conversation down. Say that you check all claim contacts with your insurer first and that you will call back, then close the door or end the call. Use the number on your policy documents, not one the caller gives you, and ask whether the visit and the person are authorised. Do not sign anything at the door, particularly an assignment of benefits or a release, and do not give bank details verbally. If you have already paid a fee or signed something, tell your insurer immediately, ask what can be undone, and report the approach to your state insurance regulator or the equivalent national authority.
Frequently asked questions
Someone offered to cover my excess or deductible if I use their repair firm, is that allowed?
Treat it as a warning sign. The offer is usually funded by inflating the repair bill sent to your insurer, which makes the claim fraudulent and can leave you exposed even though someone else wrote the invoice. It also tends to arrive with pressure to sign over your claim rights. If a contractor raises it, decline and mention it to your insurer. Choosing your own repairer is normally fine; being paid to choose a particular one is not.
Is it common for an insurer to send an adjuster without advance notice?
Legitimate insurers typically schedule adjuster visits in advance and confirm them in writing. An unexpected knock at the door from someone claiming to be an adjuster, without any prior communication from your insurer, warrants verification before you allow access or share any information.
What is an assignment-of-benefits scam?
An assignment-of-benefits scam occurs when a contractor or third party pressures you to sign over your insurance claim rights to them, often promising to handle everything. This can result in inflated claims, disputes with your insurer, and you potentially being held liable for costs not covered.