Spoof video contest

Students join in “Spoof! Insurance Fraud” competition

For students interested in filmmaking or broadcasting, the Virginia State Police Insurance Fraud Program is holding a “Spoof! Insurance Fraud” video contest for Virginia college students, asking them to spoof a classic game show or cop show in a video spreading the word about the costly crime of insurance fraud.

Video entries must be no longer than two minutes and must explain insurance fraud and how to report suspected cases, according to the Insurance Fraud Program’s website.

The deadline for submissions is April 30.

The grand prize for first place winners is $500 cash and a Kindle Fire tablet. Second place winners will receive a cash prize of $300, according to the Insurance Fraud Program’s website.

Entries should mention that citizens who suspect a case of insurance fraud should report it on StampOutFraud.com or call 877-62FRAUD and can possibly earn a reward of up to $25,000.

Public relations manager for the Insurance Fraud Program Pamela Jewell thinks that involving college students and utilizing video media is vital to the insurance fraud campaign.

“We decided to have a video contest because almost everyone is shooting videos on their cell phones and video cameras and posting them to their YouTube page.

In addition, with traditional advertising budgets being reduced, like other budgets in the commonwealth, we are looking at non-traditional media as a cost effective way to have our anti-fraud message heard,” Jewell said.

According to a press release, insurance fraud raises all Virginians’ and college students’ premiums as well as the cost of everyday goods and services.

“Our main goal in sponsoring the video contest is to increase public awareness about the crime of insurance fraud as well as promote our reward,” Jewell said.

Students who are interested in entering the contest can visit the Insurance Fraud Program’s website at stampoutfraud.com/videocontest/.