Mr. Liang subsequently reported the issue to the insurance regulatory authority. An investigation found that the travel website was indeed engaged in the illegal sale of fake insurance policies. The insurance regulatory authority subsequently took further action in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.
In this case, Mr. Liang had purchased one of the many fake policies that are rampant in the market today. Short-term accident insurance, represented by flight accident insurance, is a high-risk area for fake policies. Fake policies include those produced and sold by unofficial insurance agencies, fraudulent copies of legitimate insurance company policies made by criminals, or the resale of policies that have already been voided by the insurance company. One of the most common types of fake policies in the flight accident insurance market is those printed by illegal small companies or individuals, which are then sold in large quantities to airlines at very low prices. Some companies even operate highly realistic fake insurance sales websites.
Most consumers of short-term accident insurance cannot distinguish between real and fake policies, and often assume they are fully protected after purchasing. To avoid spending money on fake policies that do not actually provide any coverage for accidental risks, consumers should pay attention to some important details when buying insurance products such as flight accident insurance. For example, when purchasing flight accident insurance through intermediaries such as airports or ticket sales outlets, it is essential to confirm whether the seller has prominently displayed a "License for Insurance Agency Business" issued by the insurance regulatory authority at their place of business. After obtaining the flight accident insurance policy, consumers should verify its authenticity by calling the policy inquiry phone number or visiting the inquiry website listed on the policy. Additionally, experts advise consumers not to purchase flight accident insurance policies from out-of-town insurance companies, hand-written flight accident insurance policies, or buy them directly from individuals.
Consumers should also be wary not only of fake policies but also of genuine yet invalid ones. Some expired policies that were in use before the implementation of the co-insurance system for flight accident insurance may be official policies from insurance companies, but they are no longer valid due to having exceeded their usage period. Regulatory authorities stipulate that selling policies across regions is illegal, so such policies are also not valid. There is also a type of invalid policy that is easily overlooked — those that require customer registration to take effect. Many consumers who purchase such policies often assume that the policy will automatically become valid, but some need to be registered and activated by the user before they officially take effect.
If consumers discover any illegal activities or clues related to the unauthorized sale of flight accident insurance policies or the production and sale of fake policies, they should report them to the local insurance regulatory bureau.