Happy Wednesday! In this week's Big I Buzz, we are discussing four reasons to register for InsurCon today, Illinois' plan to verify vehicle insurance and the rise in fraud attempts against financial services.

Four Reasons Why You Should Register for InsurCon Today

1. FREE CE Credit Voucher

Included with all InsurCon registrations, you'll receive a voucher good for 6 FREE CE credits (a $144 value)! Attendees can then redeem their free CE courses online in the comfort of their own homes through the IIAW and ABEN. Once you receive your credit voucher at registration of InsurCon, you can redeem your credits through November 30, 2021. 

2. Time to Reconnect

2020 was a long year to be apart, and now is the perfect time to reconnect with everyone! The Kalahari's new convention center offers plenty of space for us to connect safely. We will be following all safety guidelines outlined by the Kalahari, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the CDC. 

3. Exhibitor Showcase

Our annual Exhibitor Showcase will be held on Wednesday, August 11th. New to InsurCon2021, we will be playing Blackout Bingo! Connect with the exhibitors, and earn awesome prizes! The more exhibitors you visit, the greater the chance to win BINGO! 

4. Keynote Speakers

Our speakers include industry experts, marketing gurus and technology geniuses. First, our keynote speaker, Joe Theismann will highlight his strategies for handling unforeseen change. e can't think of a better topic to discuss at this year's convention!  You will not want to miss all of the great information that Beth Ziesenis has to share about finding the best bargain technology tools for work and home. As we continue to move forward in this post-COVID world, you can apply Beth's insights to your work situation, whether that's in-person, remote or hybrid! Lastly, but definitely not least, join us to hear from Bill Pieroni, President & CEO of ACORD. Bill's expertise revolves around digitization, change management and the strategic and capability imperatives for high performance in the insurance industry.

Now, it's time to register! Head to iiaw.com/insurcon to save your spot today, you have so many reasons not to miss this event! We can't wait to see you August 10-11 at the Kalahari Resorts & Convention Center for InsurCon2021.

Illinois Isn't Playing Games, Will Randomly Verify Vehicle Insurance Starting Next Month

Illinois' Secretary of State will be launching a new program to check for proof of insurance without drivers knowing it. While drivers who don't already have insurance are already at risk for fines, on July 1, 2021 there will be a new program verifying valid insurance. The program, Illinois Insurance Verification System, or ILIVS, will allow the Secretary of State's office to randomly verify valid insurance for Illinois vehicle owners, according to Rockford-based radio station, Q98.5. If a driver's vehicle is flagged, drivers will face fines and suspensions if their vehicle pops up uninsured. If a vehicle is flagged, the Secretary of State asks that the customer's insurance company will need to confirm that the vehicle owner has auto insurance on the verification date mentioned  through the Illinois Insurance Verification System. According to Q98.5, "If you are unable to prove your vehicle is properly insured, you will face license plate suspension along with a $100 reinstatement fee."

TransUnion: Fraud Attempts Against Financial Services Rise 149%

A new TransUnion Report has found that global digital fraud attempts against financial services spiked 149% compared to the last four months of 2020. According to NU Property Casualty, "In the U.S. specifically, financial services fraud attempts increased 109%, the global information and insights company said. The top type of fraud targeting financial services was true identity theft, which TransUnion defined as when a consumer uses a stolen identity to commit fraud, with the victim being a real person. For the insurance industry, suspected ghost broker fraud was the top type of fraud TransUnion detected during the research period." Read more about the report here. 

For more news, check out the Action news section of our weekly e-newsletter, Big I Buzz. If you aren’t subscribed, click here to add your email to our emailing list. We hope that everyone has a great rest of their week!