When a death claim originates abroad, the death instantly becomes more complicated. Jurisdictions differ, documentation standards vary, and worst of all, fraudsters know this. They know that when facts are scattered across borders and legal systems, unscrupulous claims can slip through the cracks.
Foreign death claims create a complex and high-stakes puzzle for insurance companies. Get it right, and you protect your company and your policyholders. Get it wrong, and you risk paying a false claim or undermining confidence in your processes.
At Diligence International Group, we specialize in investigating and identifying foreign death claims. Our investigators help insurers face the challenges of foreign death claims with confidence.
If your agency faces a foreign death claim, let’s discuss our process for identifying claims and keeping expensive risks at bay.
Why Foreign Death Claims Are So Challenging
Claims that involve deaths outside the insurer’s domestic market come with a unique set of risks. Many of these risks are logistical. However, some are cultural or outright deceptive.
Let’s start with legal and procedural issues. Remember, every country is unique. Meaning, it has a framework for reporting deaths and issuing documents (either promptly or within agonizing months). At the end of the day, it’s important to remember that an authentic-looking document doesn’t always tell the truth.
Just because there is a seal or signature on the document doesn’t mean the death is validated.
Then we get into the language and translation barriers involved with a foreign death.
Translating a foreign language document is more than swapping words. Dates are formatted differently. Names can appear in multiple scripts or orders. Insurers must have an accurate translation, or they risk missing key elements of the claim; and that’s where fraud can sneak through..
We’ve begun to see the rise of the ease of fabrication with AI. Tools like this make it easier than ever to help craft a false death certificate or hospital letter. Fraudsters can create very official-looking documents that can easily be taken for the truth.
Without experienced scrutiny, these forgeries can fool claims personnel.
The Process for Identifying Foreign Death Claims
What makes identification so hard is that there is no one way to prove a claim is valid or fraudulent.
At Diligence International Group, our international investigators use a multi-layered and methodical process for stopping death claim fraud in its tracks.
Verify the Identity First
We start by confirming that the insured person is real and the beneficiary has legitimate insurable interest. Sometimes these cases are merely identity theft designed to be difficult for tracing abroad.
Authenticate Key Documents
Next we look into the essential documents. This includes:
- Death certificates
- Certificates of cause of death
- Burial records
- Autopsy reports
We don’t just look at these documents and say they’re legitimate. First, our team verifies them with the issuing authority and vet them for formatting anomalies.
Understand Local Systems and Customs
Some countries do not issue detailed medical cause‑of‑death forms or require burial permits before formal registration.
Investigators must be familiar with the lay of the land and local systems. Knowing where records exists helps move the process along when identifying a suspicious document.
Engage Local Partners Where Needed
Finally, the language barriers can be brutal if you don’t speak it. This puts a literal wall between you and understanding jurisdictional boundaries. Fortunately, teams like ours have local field agents that can help overcome language issues and:
- Gather records
- Interview witnesses
- Obtain certified copies of official forms.
What Makes Diligence International Group Unique?
Identifying foreign death claims requires special capabilities. That’s where Diligence International Group steps in. Yes, we cover the basics like field-level verification, documentation authentication, and cultural awareness. But we bring services that go beyond the standard and help your insurance team prevent fraudulent foreign death claims.
We don’t just verify a certificate and call it done. We build a case: identify what should be present, confirm what is present, and reconcile those two with evidence from all available sources. When we find gaps, we know how to chase them down without violating privacy or legal constraints.
Settle Doubts on Foreign Death Claims With Diligence International Group
Foreign death claims are inherently complex. The risks of fraud are real, and the consequences of misjudgment can be significant for both insurers and legitimate beneficiaries. There is no substitute for careful, nuanced investigation backed by experience and global perspective.
At Diligence International Group, we help you see the truth behind the documents. When a claim crosses borders, let your verification process cross borders with it.
If you’re facing a foreign death claim that needs deeper investigation, we’re ready to help. Together we can protect your business, serve your policyholders, and act with integrity in every case.