Prevention Tips
Here are some indicators to look for, not necessarily in order of import:
Date (top right corner). This is the date the certificate was produced.
a. does it fall between the policy effective and expiration dates?
b. does it match the unique electronic date / time stamp located at far bottom of certificate?
Producer Box. Producer must include an active producer license number in this box. This number can then be checked for authenticity and authority on insurance.ca.gov.
Insurer Box. This is the insurance company that writes the policy. Each insurance company that is approved to provide workers compensation coverage has an assigned NAIC number. This number must be listed on the certificate of insurance. You can check the number's accuracy at insurance.ca.gov and whether or not the insurer is approved to write policies in your state.
Certificate Number. Each certificate of insurance produced must have a unique certificate number listed in this box. If you receive multiple certificates with the same number, or with no number, this is a potential indication of forgery or fraud.
Policy Number Box. This policy number is unique to the policy and never extends longer than a 12 month period. If you have different certificates with the same policy number that predate the policy effective date, or extend beyond the policy expiration date, that is indication of forgery or fraud.
Description of Operations box. This is where waiver of subrogation language, exclusion or inclusion of officers, and additional physical locations may be entered. Any company named in this box does not mean they are insured by the policy. Again, only the company named in the Insured box is insured by the policy.
Certificate Holder. Companies named in the cert holder box are not insured by the policy, unless specifically listed in the insured box. Certificate holders are granted the right to be informed of any cancellations to the policy, and to check that it's active. Certificate holders have the right to contact the insurer to check the validity of the policy. If the cert is legitimate and compliant, the insurer will have access to the cert holders and will be able to see cert holder in the system. If the cert holder is not in the insurer's system, it may be an indication that the cert was forged or produced without consent of the carrier.
Authorized Representative Box. This signature should be pre-approved by the carrier. If the carrier does not recognize the signature, it may be an indication that the cert was forged or altered.
Electronic date stamp. Most certificates produced out of a carrier approved system will have an electronic time and date stamp at the bottom of the cert. The exact stamp is unique to the certificate. If you have multiple certificates with the same time stamp, it is an indication that the cert was forged or fraudulent.
Prevention Tips
Here are some indicators to look for, not necessarily in order of import:
Date (top right corner). This is the date the certificate was produced.
a. does it fall between the policy effective and expiration dates?
b. does it match the unique electronic date / time stamp located at far bottom of certificate?
Producer Box. Producer must include an active producer license number in this box. This number can then be checked for authenticity and authority on insurance.ca.gov.
Insurer Box. This is the insurance company that writes the policy. Each insurance company that is approved to provide workers compensation coverage has an assigned NAIC number. This number must be listed on the certificate of insurance. You can check the number's accuracy at insurance.ca.gov and whether or not the insurer is approved to write policies in your state.
Certificate Number. Each certificate of insurance produced must have a unique certificate number listed in this box. If you receive multiple certs with the same number, or with no number, this is a potential indication of forgery or fraud.
Policy Number Box. This policy number is unique to the policy and never extends longer then a 12 month period. If you have different certs with the same policy number that predate the policy effective date, or extend beyond the policy expiration date, that is indication of forgery or fraud.
Description of Operations box. This is where waiver of subrogation language, exclusion or inclusion of officers, and additional physical locations may be entered. Any company named in this box does not mean they are insured by the policy. Again, only the company named in the Insured box is insured by the policy.
Certificate Holder. Companies named in the cert holder box are not insured by the policy, unless specifically listed in the insured box. Certificate holders are granted the right to be informed of any cancellations to the policy, and to check that it's active. Certificate holders have the right to contact the insurer to check the validity of the policy. If the cert is legitimate and compliant, the insurer will have access to the cert holders and will be able to see cert holder in the system. If the cert holder is not in the insurer's system, it may be an indication that the cert was forged or produced without consent of the carrier.
Authorized Representative Box. This signature should be pre-approved by the carrier. If the carrier does not recognize the signature, it may be an indication that the cert was forged or altered.
Electronic date stamp. Most certs produced out of a carrier approved system will have an electronic time and date stamp at the bottom of the cert. The exact stamp is unique to the certificate. If you have multiple certificates with the same time stamp, it is an indication that the cert was forged or fraudulent.
