How Data Sharing and Digital Media Forensics are Reshaping Fraud Detection

July 10, 2025 / 5 min read

The rising challenge of digital media fraud

Today’s insurance claims adjusters face a growing challenge: authenticating digital media. Fakes that once required significant technical skill now take mere seconds with widely available tools. The democratization of editing technology and AI has created an environment where anyone with a smartphone can alter images and documents with startling ease.

“Ten years ago, most people wouldn’t know how to edit images,” explains Emily Law, senior director of analytics at Verisk. “You needed Photoshop skills and time to learn. Now, it’s as simple as typing a text prompt into an AI model—many of which are free or very low cost.”

This shift has created a perfect storm of insurance fraud. As carriers increase their reliance on virtual inspections and photo-based claims processing, fraudsters have identified vulnerabilities. Without robust verification tools, insurers can struggle to identify manipulated images or documents submitted across multiple claims.

Building a solution through collaboration

Verisk recognized this emerging threat and began developing Digital Media Forensics, a solution that addresses the unique challenges of digital media fraud. While the concept had been discussed for more than a decade, only in recent years has it come to life as a comprehensive, end-to-end solution designed to support insurers throughout the claims process.

The foundation lies in what has long made Verisk’s ClaimSearch® successful—a contributory database model in which participating insurers share data to benefit the entire industry. This collaborative approach creates a powerful network effect that strengthens with each new contributor.

“Our contributory database places us in a unique position,” Law notes. “We’ve established a strong track record as a data custodian and steward. That trust element is crucial.”

Today, the database contains approximately half a billion images, with contributions from insurers that include five of the top ten property/casualty (P&C) insurers. This represents significant progress, but there’s still tremendous potential for growth as more carriers join the network.

Comprehensive capabilities for today’s challenges

Verisk offers a suite of tools designed to address various aspects of digital media fraud:

Cross-carrier image duplication—Identifies when the same images appear in different claims across carriers. This cornerstone capability helps detect organized fraud rings that target multiple insurers.
Metadata analysis—Automatically examines image metadata to verify when and where photos were taken, flagging inconsistencies with reported claim details.
Internet duplication—Identifies images sourced from the web that are misrepresented as claim documentation.
PDF manipulation—Detects alterations in documents such as receipts or invoices.
Pixel manipulation—Identifies subtle changes made to authentic photos, such as adding damage to otherwise legitimate images.
Deepfake detection—A newer capability that counters AI-generated imagery.

These capabilities integrate seamlessly into existing workflows through ClaimSearch and Verisk’s property estimating solutions, requiring minimal additional effort from adjusters.

Real impact: Detecting what the human eye misses

Digital Media Forensics has already uncovered numerous fraud instances that would otherwise go undetected. In one case, a staged Segway accident scheme was uncovered when the technology matched damage photos across six different carriers within a month—all originating from a Reddit post. Another investigation revealed identical photos of home dialysis equipment supposedly damaged in a fire being claimed across multiple states and insurers.

Catastrophe situations present particular vulnerability, as the surge in claims volume can allow fraudulent submissions to slip through. Digital Media Forensics has proven especially valuable during these high-pressure periods by flagging suspicious patterns automatically.

“We’ve also identified potential service provider fraud,” Law adds. “In some cases, we’ve found the exact same damage photos submitted across multiple claims, all linked to a single service provider.”

The core benefit of Digital Media Forensics: comprehensive checks at scale without requiring manual review of every image. Adjusters only need to examine files when the system generates alerts.

Beyond fraud detection: Operational benefits

While fraud prevention is critical, Digital Media Forensics delivers value beyond catching bad actors. The system helps:

Accelerate legitimate claims processing—By quickly verifying authentic documentation, adjusters can pay valid claims faster, improving customer satisfaction.
Reduce manual effort—Eliminating the need for time-consuming visual inspections of every image frees staff for more strategic work.
Improve SIU referral quality—More precise flagging of suspicious media means investigators focus on truly problematic cases.
Support confident decision-making—Adjusters can act with greater assurance knowing documentation has been thoroughly verified.

Looking ahead: Evolving with emerging threats

The digital media fraud landscape shifts continually as technology advances. Verisk stays ahead as contributing members of the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) and the Technical Advisory Group at the PDF association; in-house expertise from dedicated forensics specialists; and collaborative development with customers to identify and address new threats.

As the percentage of claims involving digital media fraud grows, Verisk will continue expanding capabilities to address increasingly sophisticated techniques. This includes enhancing existing checks and developing new verification methods.

The power of participation

The value of Digital Media Forensics multiplies with each new contributor, offering:

Network strength—Access to a vastly larger pool of comparison images than any single carrier could maintain.
Efficiency—Elimination of manual outreach to other insurers to verify suspected duplicate images.
Defensibility—Clear, objective evidence that holds up under scrutiny.
Protection against emerging threats—Collective intelligence that adapts faster than any company could alone.

“With many potential contributors yet to participate, we’re just scratching the surface of what’s possible,” Law explains. “As our database grows, so does our ability to catch sophisticated fraud attempts.”

Taking the next step

For P&C insurers looking to strengthen their digital media fraud detection capabilities, contribution to the digital image database offers a unique opportunity to join an industry-leading initiative while gaining immediate operational benefits.

Implementation is straightforward via multiple integration options, including automated contribution through Verisk’s affiliated companies. The barrier to entry is intentionally low, ensuring that carriers of all sizes can participate in and benefit from this growing community.

As digital editing tools become more accessible and AI-generated imagery more convincing, the industry’s strongest defense is collaborative action. By contributing today, insurers can protect their own interests while building a more resilient system for the entire P&C community.

Learn more about Verisk’s Digital Media Forensics, available through ClaimSearch.

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