FresnoBee.com: Local: 66 face insurance fraud charges: "The California Department of Insurance announced Wednesday it will charge 66 people in the Valley with insurance fraud or related crimes after a series of multiagency investigations -- some of which took more than a year to complete.
'I can't remember the last time we had this many busts at once,' said Fresno County Assistant District Attorney John Savrnoch.
'For it to be of this magnitude in the Valley is pretty rare.'
Savrnoch said more than 40 of the suspects are from Fresno County. Over the past two days, he said, officials started working at 4 a.m. to make dozens of arrests in five counties -- Merced, Fresno, Kern, Kings and Tulare."
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Car insurance fraud racket discovered
Car insurance fraud racket discovered | News 8 Investigates | WFAA.com: "Car accidents are a pain for most of us but for some they can be big business.
Today federal agents announced success in cracking a sophisticated insurance fraud scheme.
Take a look at any street, and you would think cars are there for transportation.
But the U.S. attorney this morning revealed a scheme where all the cars involved were made simply for fraud."
Today federal agents announced success in cracking a sophisticated insurance fraud scheme.
Take a look at any street, and you would think cars are there for transportation.
But the U.S. attorney this morning revealed a scheme where all the cars involved were made simply for fraud."
Ex-guard charged with insurance fraud
recordonline.com - Ex-guard charged with insurance fraud: "A former correction officer, Dennis Gillan of Monroe, was arrested and charged with fraud against the New York State Insurance Fund, according to a release from the fund.
Gillan, 49, an avid outdoorsman, hiked, hunted deer and collected more than $100,000 in insurance benefits after injuries sustained on the job in July 2002 supposedly hurt him so much he couldn’t walk more than a block, according to the release.
Since then, the NSYSIF said, he signed statements and convinced doctors he was in too much pain to work.
Investigators checking out Gillan’s claims found his actions strayed from what he told doctors."
Gillan, 49, an avid outdoorsman, hiked, hunted deer and collected more than $100,000 in insurance benefits after injuries sustained on the job in July 2002 supposedly hurt him so much he couldn’t walk more than a block, according to the release.
Since then, the NSYSIF said, he signed statements and convinced doctors he was in too much pain to work.
Investigators checking out Gillan’s claims found his actions strayed from what he told doctors."
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Real Estate Fraud Is On the Rise: Protect Yourself
Investigation News - Real Estate Fraud Is On the Rise: Protect Yourself - PInow.com Investigator Directory: "Real estate fraud is on the rise. Knowing the popular scams out there and knowing how to protect against this type of criminal activity is essential.Real estate fraud is an umbrella term for criminal activity involving real estate – criminal activity that usually amounts to little more than theft. According to new statistics, the problem seems to be getting worse. The FBI reported that in 2005 alone, real estate fraud cost the country at least $606 million. The Treasury Department is tracking 35% more suspicious through 2006. The IRS reports that cases of mortgage fraud that have been brought to their attention have been doubling every two years, starting with this decade. This worrisome trend means that all real estate investors and homeowners should be on the alert."
What is real estate fraud?
Are Employees Using These Sneaky Tactics to Defraud Your Business?
Investigation News - Are Employees Using These Sneaky Tactics to Defraud Your Business? - PInow.com Investigator Directory: "Employees embezzle many millions of dollars from their employees each year. All businesses need to be aware of the most common worker scams.In 2004, Lucy Magda pleaded guilty to stealing more than $2.2 million from her previous employer, the St. Catharines Standard. The Burgoyne family, who owned the newspaper, was forced to sell the newspaper to Southam Newspapers in 1996, a move that some experts claim was brought about by Magda’s dishonesty. In 2006, a business manager of the N.C. Press Association pleaded guilty to embezzling $268,340 from his former employer. In 2006, an employee of Brock Cabinets was sentenced for five to seven years in prison after she was found guilty of embezzling $1.5 million from the company that hired her.
Findings from the University of Florida’s 2004 National Retail Security Survey suggest that theft by employees means more than $14.6 billion in annual losses, which means that employee embezzlement and dishonesty is the single most expensive type of fraud affecting businesses today. Yet, many businesses are blissfully unaware of the impact their employees have on their businesses. Lucy Magda was considered an ideal employee at the St. Catharines Standard – even though she stole from..."
There are many ways that employees may steal from a business:
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Woman charged in arson for insurance case
DesMoinesRegister.com: "A Waterloo woman has been charged with arson based on allegations she set fire to her house to claim insurance money.
Lora Mae Gamblin-Deering, 35, is charged with second-degree arson, insurance fraud and perjury, Waterloo police reported today. Gamblin-Deering is accused of setting fire to her house on April 3 and later filing claims to her insurance company stating her property loss was $25,000, police reported.
Investigators determined the fire was deliberately set in several locations throughout the house. An arson canine detected ignitable liquids used to start the fire and traces of ignitable liquid found on the clothesGamblin-Deering was wearing the night of the fire, police reported. "
Lora Mae Gamblin-Deering, 35, is charged with second-degree arson, insurance fraud and perjury, Waterloo police reported today. Gamblin-Deering is accused of setting fire to her house on April 3 and later filing claims to her insurance company stating her property loss was $25,000, police reported.
Investigators determined the fire was deliberately set in several locations throughout the house. An arson canine detected ignitable liquids used to start the fire and traces of ignitable liquid found on the clothesGamblin-Deering was wearing the night of the fire, police reported. "
Fraud claims coming to court
Modbee.com | The Modesto Bee :: Fraud claims coming to court: "In what's billed as one of the Central Valley's biggest insurance fraud cases, Modesto chiropractor Wilmer Origel is scheduled to stand trial in June on suspicion of defrauding insurers and workers compensation out of millions of dollars.
State insurance officials call the charges an example of false medical claims everyone pays for with higher premiums.
Origel's attorney sees the case as an example of insurance companies leading a criminal probe. The insurance industry has loaned investigators to the case, and Origel attorney Daniel Horowitz says they have misguided public prosecutors on the law."
State insurance officials call the charges an example of false medical claims everyone pays for with higher premiums.
Origel's attorney sees the case as an example of insurance companies leading a criminal probe. The insurance industry has loaned investigators to the case, and Origel attorney Daniel Horowitz says they have misguided public prosecutors on the law."
Businessman pleads guilty in insurance fraud case
Wilkes-Barre and Northeastern PA News from the Associated Press | timesleader.com - The Times Leader: "A businessman accused of defrauding an insurance company over flood damage pleaded guilty Thursday to a charge of conspiracy.
Federal prosecutors said Michael Smarto, with the help of another person, submitted artificially overstated bids and invoices to an insurance company for repair work on tools and machinery damaged by flooding triggered by Hurricane Ivan in September 2004."
Federal prosecutors said Michael Smarto, with the help of another person, submitted artificially overstated bids and invoices to an insurance company for repair work on tools and machinery damaged by flooding triggered by Hurricane Ivan in September 2004."
Major social insurance fraud leads to arrests
The Local - Major social insurance fraud leads to arrests: "Police have arrested a number of people following revelations that the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan) has been the victim a major fraud operation thought to be worth tens of millions of kronor. Among those arrested is a former agency employee.
According to director general Curt Malmborg, the agency has never before experienced fraud on this scale. But he is pleased that the justice system has been so quick to react."
According to director general Curt Malmborg, the agency has never before experienced fraud on this scale. But he is pleased that the justice system has been so quick to react."
Monday, June 11, 2007
N.J. Doctor Admits Role In $2M Insurance Rip-Off
N.J. Doctor Admits Role In $2M Insurance Rip-Off - News Story - WNBC | New York: "A West New York, N.J. doctor admitted submitting fake bills to insurance companies to pocket more than $2 million.
Dr. Carlos Fischberg, 59, pleaded guilty Thursday to the health fraud charges in Monmouth County Superior Court.
Fischberg owned and operated Hudson Rehabilitation and Medical Center in West New York. New Jersey State Attorney General Stuart Rabner said he billed 'nerve conduction velocity tests' that had not been completed."
Dr. Carlos Fischberg, 59, pleaded guilty Thursday to the health fraud charges in Monmouth County Superior Court.
Fischberg owned and operated Hudson Rehabilitation and Medical Center in West New York. New Jersey State Attorney General Stuart Rabner said he billed 'nerve conduction velocity tests' that had not been completed."
Couple Get 22 Years in Insurance Fraud
The Signal: News for Santa Clarita Valley, California: "A local couple was sentenced to 22 years each in state prison Tuesday for their involvement in an auto insurance fraud ring that staged numerous collisions on freeways throughout Southern California over the past few years and took in more than $100,000.
After nearly three weeks of trial proceedings, Saugus residents Ramon Alfonso Zanoletti, 53, and Magdalena Zanoletti, 54, were given the sentence in a Los Angeles courtroom and ordered to pay more than $300,000 in fines and restitution fees.
As part of the scam, Ramon Zanoletti hired individuals to recruit drivers that would target other motorists, get into car collisions and file false claims with insurance companies, according to information provided by the California Department of Insurance."
After nearly three weeks of trial proceedings, Saugus residents Ramon Alfonso Zanoletti, 53, and Magdalena Zanoletti, 54, were given the sentence in a Los Angeles courtroom and ordered to pay more than $300,000 in fines and restitution fees.
As part of the scam, Ramon Zanoletti hired individuals to recruit drivers that would target other motorists, get into car collisions and file false claims with insurance companies, according to information provided by the California Department of Insurance."
Insurance fraud crackdown unlikely
Democrat & Chronicle: Local News: "In an effort to clamp down on automobile-insurance fraud, the state Senate is expected to pass a bill this week to increase penalties for people who help to stage fake accidents.
But that's as far as the effort may go. The Senate has passed similar bills for the past few years as auto-insurance fraud has grown into a billion-dollar problem for insurance companies and their policyholders, and New York has retained its position as one of the most expensive states for insuring cars and trucks.
There is no indication that the measure will gain traction in the Democrat-led Assembly, where it has never been allowed onto the floor for a vote.
'Some people in the Assembly think it comes down too hard on the little guy, that it's too harsh,' acknowledged Assemblyman Ivan Lafayette, D-Queens, one of the sponsors."
But that's as far as the effort may go. The Senate has passed similar bills for the past few years as auto-insurance fraud has grown into a billion-dollar problem for insurance companies and their policyholders, and New York has retained its position as one of the most expensive states for insuring cars and trucks.
There is no indication that the measure will gain traction in the Democrat-led Assembly, where it has never been allowed onto the floor for a vote.
'Some people in the Assembly think it comes down too hard on the little guy, that it's too harsh,' acknowledged Assemblyman Ivan Lafayette, D-Queens, one of the sponsors."
Lawsuits accuse Eddie Smith of insurance fraud
Lawsuits accuse Eddie Smith of insurance fraud- al.com: "An insurance company has filed a pair of lawsuits accusing Mobile outdoorsman Edmond H. 'Eddie' Smith IV of filing bogus insurance claims, including forging signatures of mortgage company employees to cash five checks totaling more than $800,000.
Lexington Insurance Co. alleges that Smith submitted fraudulent construction invoices to substantiate claims that a home he lives in on Fowl River suffered serious damage from 2005's Hurricane Katrina.
Those invoices and other acts prompted the company to cut six two-party checks totaling $1,075,940, including the five forged checks, according to one of two lawsuits filed by the company in federal court in Mobile."
Lexington Insurance Co. alleges that Smith submitted fraudulent construction invoices to substantiate claims that a home he lives in on Fowl River suffered serious damage from 2005's Hurricane Katrina.
Those invoices and other acts prompted the company to cut six two-party checks totaling $1,075,940, including the five forged checks, according to one of two lawsuits filed by the company in federal court in Mobile."
Insurers on the Alert for False Claims Turn to Private Investigators
Investigation News - Insurers on the Alert for False Claims Turn to Private Investigators - PInow.com Investigator Directory: "Professional Investigator Warns Insurers to Check Public Records and –Surprise- Medical Records for the Real Scoop
Terese Strickland, a professional private investigator in Knoxville, Tennessee has seen some strange insurance claims in her years as an investigator. One that sticks out in her mind is “a claimant who insisted he became diabetic as a result of a car accident.” While such cases may bring a chuckle to many people, they are no joke for insurers who lose millions each year as a result of such bogus claims.
Worse, Strickland points out that many cases are not so obvious. Another case this investigator cracked involved a claim of e.coli poisoning. Strickland was able to prove her client, a well-known dairy, was not at fault after discovering that the woman making the claim was lactose intolerant and likely did not ingest milk. This was discovered only after an intensive medical records search – an investigation that many insurers resort to all too rarely."
Insurers on the Alert for False Claims Turn to Private Investigators
Terese Strickland, a professional private investigator in Knoxville, Tennessee has seen some strange insurance claims in her years as an investigator. One that sticks out in her mind is “a claimant who insisted he became diabetic as a result of a car accident.” While such cases may bring a chuckle to many people, they are no joke for insurers who lose millions each year as a result of such bogus claims.
Worse, Strickland points out that many cases are not so obvious. Another case this investigator cracked involved a claim of e.coli poisoning. Strickland was able to prove her client, a well-known dairy, was not at fault after discovering that the woman making the claim was lactose intolerant and likely did not ingest milk. This was discovered only after an intensive medical records search – an investigation that many insurers resort to all too rarely."
Insurers on the Alert for False Claims Turn to Private Investigators
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