Crushing Bottle Deposit Fraud

The bottle and can return machines at Hi-Lite Super Market in Monroe are one target of a growing scam that's hitting Michigan and its beverage distributors with million-dollar losses: collecting 10-cent refunds on returnable containers for which no deposit was paid.

Conveniently just 12 miles north of the state line, the grocery is one of many shops in southern Michigan where free money is available through the "return" of nondeposit empties from beverages bought in Indiana, Ohio or other states without bottle deposit laws.

DID ANNE HATHAWAY SQUEAL ON RAFFAELLO FOLLIERI?

Anne Hathaway’s former boyfriend, Italian entrepreneur Raffaello Follieri has pleaded guilty to all 14 counts of conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering in a real estate investment venture this morning, saying, "I knew what I was doing was wrong," according to Access Hollywood. And Anne Hathaway is finally talking about the breakup in the October issue of W magazine.In the W interview, conducted just three weeks after Follieri's arrest, she talks about Follieri's troubles, saying, “It’s a situation where the rug was pulled out from under me all of a sudden."
But according to a story in the new issue of Vanity Fair, Anne Hathaway was still talking to Follieri just six hours before he was arrested.
She reportedly called him on his cellphone at midnight. He put her on speaker phone. When he asked her to come to his 30th birthday party on Capri, she fell silent, finally saying, “You were the love of my life. I’ll always love you. You know that, baby.”
The article poses the question: Did Hathaway -– or her advisors and/or family -– help the FBI in their investigation of Follieri? It's something Follieri is also wondering.
Vanity Fair writes that after his arrest in April, the Italian businessman believed that Hathaway’s camp was planting negative stories in the press. And Hathaway even told Follieri that her father had hired a private investigator.
Her dad, Jerry Hathaway, admitted to having a PI check him out and e-mailed Vanity Fair: “I regard my involvement in this situation, regardless of its dimensions and level of interest, as fundamentally a private matter between a daughter and her father.”
One source tells Vanity Fair that Follieri’s arrest would not have happened without the promise of a publicity prize due to his famous actress girlfriend. But who cooperated with the FBI?

HIRE A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR TO PERFORM A FRAUD INVESTIGATION

A fraud investigation might be conducted in order to determine:whether or not there has been a sale of assets that were either misrepresented or fictitious;whether or not improper payments – kickbacks, illegal political donations, bribes, or payoffs – have been made from within the company;whether or not there has been some sort of intentional misrepresentation or assets, liabilities, transactions or income;whether or not there have been intentional pricing changes created to benefit the business financially;whether or not items have been deliberately left off the books; or fraud investigation may be handled by a private investigator. A private investigator may be brought in to conduct a fraud investigation to determine which asset was transferred improperly or to establish which employee may have defrauded the organization.

This can be done through deeper background checks to determine whether there are employees who had access to the assets upholstery cleaning tampa also have a criminal record. A private investigator can also conduct background checks into employees' credit histories, judgments and liens, even federal and civil records to determine whether or not red flags are present.

Often, a private investigator is called in to perform a fraud investigation after fraud has been discovered. He or she will be hired by the business to conduct full background searches upholstery cleaning service employees who may have been involved in misrepresenting assets, making improper payments, leaving items off the books or even embezzling.

In addition to a fraud investigation, a private investigator is likely to work with the business' executives to determine a plan for preventing fraud in the future. This may involve examining the policies and procedures that are currently in upholstery cleaners It may also involve implementing surveillance through cameras or by tracking programs installed on office computers.

By creating a fraud prevention strategy and by conducting a fraud investigation, a private investigator can help to put your business back on the right track.

Perhaps your business has not always taken the time to conduct thorough background investigations of applicants before hiring. Perhaps you are hoping that your business still has the opportunity to prevent fraud. Maybe you've been unfortunate memory foam air mattress and fraud has already taken place. Regardless of your situation, a fraud investigation can help to ensure that you are fully aware of what is taking place.

When that fraud investigation is conducted by a private investigator, you can also take measures to protect your business from future instances of fraud.

POLICE WATCHDOG UNDER FIRE OVER MISCONDUCT CASES

The Victorian watchdog charged with investigating crooked police has come under fire over its handling of misconduct within its own ranks.

The Office of Police Integrity (OPI) has been rocked by allegations a sacked investigator was forced to sign statutory declarations to cover up thousands of dollars worth of dubious expense claims.

The former OPI employee alleges his boss forced him to sign the claims to account for OPI expenses spent on meals and entertainment.

He also declared hundreds of dollars allegedly lost by his boss on poker machines as expenses for an OPI operation, code-named Uranium.

The boss at the centre of the allegations has been suspended on full pay.

The OPI has employed a private investigator to probe the claims, which will be reviewed by Victorian ombudsman George Brouwer.

Private Investigators Examine House Explosion

A team of private investigators converged Monday at the site of a home destroyed in an apparent natural gas explosion.

Last Thursday’s blast at 410 Wellingford Street, near West Sugar Creek Road and North Tryon, killed 4-month-old Synora Coleman and injured her parents.

Fayetteville Reels in Bogus Movies, CDs

A DeKalb County man, who was found with over 300 counterfeit movies and 800 counterfeit music CD’s in his car, now faces felony charges in Fayetteville

According to Capt. Steve Crawshaw of the Fayetteville Police Department, Kenneth McCrory, 50, was arrested Wednesday and charged with unauthorized distribution and sale of recorded material.

According to Crawshaw, the arrest came after Fayetteville Police were contacted by a private investigator working for the Motion Picture Association of America.

The investigator told police he had purchased movies from a man selling them out of his SUV, Crawshaw said.

Recent PI Raids on Counterfeiters Raise Concerns About Fakes

In bright orange letters, the sign in the window says "Yes We're Open."

But take a look at the black gate and lock that stretches across the front of Shoes N More at 2903 W. Western Ave., and you'll see a different story.

Private Detective Probes Case From Outer Space

Private eye T.K. Davis has worked his share of oddball cases. Once, he tracked down a one-armed woman wanted for child endangerment. He staked out a backyard to catch a guy throwing dirt clods into a pool. When you make your living answering life's mysterious questions at $100 an hour, you take a few calls out of the blue.

Police: Beware insurance fraud

The News Leader - www.newsleader.com - Staunton, Va.: "The Virginia State Police are encouraging Virginians to plan ahead and be prepared for potential disasters during hurricane season and to take steps to guard against fraudsters, cheaters and crooks who often show up during a storm's aftermath.

According to a recent press release from the organization, insurance fraud costs Virginians more than $200 a year in increased premiums and increases the costs of everyday purchases by $200 to $1,000 a year."

66 face insurance fraud charges

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."

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."

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."

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:

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. "

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."

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."

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."

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."

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."