Study Shows Consumer Willingness to Edit Claim Images

A surprisingly large share of consumers are willing to digitally alter claim photos or documents, a new survey shows.

More than one-third (36%) said they would consider making an edit, with younger adults leading the way— 55% of Gen Z and 49% of millennials said they would consider editing, compared with 28% of Gen X and 12% of baby boomers.

Insurers that participated in the survey reported a rise in manipulated media, with nearly all (98%) saying AI‑powered editing tools are fueling an increase in digital insurance fraud.

The findings come from the Verisk State of Insurance Fraud study, which draws on national surveys of 1,000 U.S. consumers and 300 insurance claims professionals conducted from December 2025 through January 2026.

Consumers also view several types of edits as acceptable: 52% said adjusting brightness or contrast is acceptable, and 41% said flipping, rotating, or repairing a blurry photo is acceptable. Thirty-nine percent said cropping out background elements is acceptable. Fifteen percent said exaggerating damage is acceptable, and 13% said creating a photo of damage that never occurred is acceptable.

Many consumers may not understand the implications of these changes. According to the survey, 53% of insurers believe that at least half of policyholders who alter claim media do not realize their edits may constitute fraud.

“AI editing tools are changing how people interact with digital content, and insurance is feeling that shift in real time,” said Shane Riedman, president of Anti‑Fraud Analytics at Verisk. “Our concern is that many consumers don’t see small edits as crossing a line, but when those changes make their way into claims, they can materially affect outcomes. As manipulated media becomes more common, many insurers face growing pressure to establish clearer boundaries, improve visibility, and prevent fraud – while preserving a fair and efficient claims experience for policyholders.”

Manipulated media is already widespread in claims. Nearly all insurer respondents (99%) said they have encountered manipulated or AI-altered documentation, and 98% said AI tools are driving a rise in digital insurance fraud. More than three-fourths (76%) said manipulated submissions have become more sophisticated in the past year.

Carriers are using a mix of tools to respond: 65% use automated third-party AI detection tools, 50% use internally developed AI tools, and 44% rely on manual review. Confidence varies by fraud type: 58% are very confident in detecting edits to real photos or videos, but only 32% are very confident in identifying deepfakes. Forty-three percent feel very confident assessing authenticity at scale.

Insurers also cite several structural challenges. More than one-third (39%) cited insufficient integration between fraud tools and claims systems, and 38% said their detection tools miss too many fraudulent or altered claim images and documents. Another 35% reported false positives, while 34% cited difficulty keeping up with evolving fraud techniques.

“Insurers aren’t standing still, but the threat is evolving faster than many systems were built to handle,” Riedman said. “Detection tools that aren’t fully integrated into claims workflows can create blind spots. As deepfakes and other AI‑driven manipulation become more common, the carriers will need more connected systems and shared intelligence to keep pace.”

More than half of carriers (54%) are increasing internal training, 51% have established new guidance for adjusters, 48% are conducting internal audits, and 47% are investing in new fraud detection technology.

Consumers also expect AI-driven fraud to affect costs. Sixty-nine percent of consumers believe fraudulent claims will increase premiums for all policyholders. Their top concern (42%) is higher premiums for honest customers.

Insurers anticipate similar pressures over the next three to five years: