(Washington, DC) Mayor Anthony Williams has issued a proclamation declaring October 29, 2003 as Insurance and Securities Fraud Awareness Day in the District of Columbia. Lawrence H. Mirel, Commissioner, DC Department of Insurance and Securities Regulation (DISR) will read the proclamation during the general session of the Second Annual Fraud Awareness Conference on Wednesday, October 29, 2003. Mirel applauded the Mayor by saying, "I commend the Mayor for making this important designation for the city. It shows his commitment to helping DISR work toward ending insurance and securities fraud in the District."

The proclamation reads in part:

Whereas, The Fraud Bureau of the DC Department of Insurance and Securities Regulation provides a service and protection to the citizens and consumers of the District of Columbia from the direct or indirect effects of suspected fraudulent insurance or securities acts;

Whereas, The Fraud Bureau of the DC Department of Insurance and Securities Regulation encourages all District residents to identify and report insurance and securities fraud;

Now therefore, I the Mayor of the District of Columbia do hereby proclaim October 29, 2003, as "Insurance Fraud Awareness Day" in Washington, DC, and call upon all the residents of this great city to join me in observing this day by pledging to root out and report insurance fraud.

Each year in the US, insurance criminals steal $30 billion dollar a year from individuals and organizations. For more information, contact Stephen Perry, Director, Insurance & Securities Fraud Bureau at (202) 727-8000. To report insurance and securities fraud in the District of Columbia, contact (202) 727-8000.