Consumers Warned of Insurance Fraud

From staged auto accidents to the sale of fake Medicare cards, insurance fraud is an increasing problem across the state and country.

In recognition of March being Fraud Prevention Month, AAA Arizona would like to shed light on this crime that is estimated to cost the average Arizona family an additional $300 per year in increased premiums.

Living the Life of Luxury? Former Title Agent Accused of Grand Theft

Investigators say 29-year-old Erica L. Daniels spent $660,000 of her former clients' escrow funds to live extravagantly.

The Florida Department of Financial Services' Fraud Division arrested Daniels at her modest Polk County home that she now shares with her husband and two elementary aged sons. They live at Grand Central Avenue near a busy railroad track. There are cows in a field behind the home that has an in ground swimming pool.

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.

Public Works Employee Charged on Eleven Counts of Felony Workers' Compensation Fraud

37 year-old Brian Phillips of Visalia was charged with 11 felony counts of Workers' Compensation Insurance Fraud. The case was jointly investigated by claims administrator Keenan & Associates in their Rancho Cordova Office, and Tulare County Deputy District Attorney Leland Sterling, who was also the prosecutor. The investigation revealed that Phillips was working for the Visalia Safe Company, owned by his in-laws, while receiving disability benefits from the City of Visalia.

Four Valley Cities Involved in Chiropractor Fraud

Businesses in four Valley cities are part of an alleged 5 state insurance fraud ring involving chiropractor offices.

The Allstate Insurance Company says people employed by Chiropractic Strategies Group obtained police reports of people not at fault in car accidents. Then telemarketers called them, saying that people could get a free check up at those offices.

Fraud Scene Investigator

People don’t normally try to kill you for doing their taxes, but forensic accounting is a whole different ball game.

One morning a few years ago, forensic accountant Al Vondra was driving to work on Cleveland's Interstate 77 as he always did. But this day was different. As he was driving, all four tires on his Buick LeSabre suddenly exploded. The gas tank hit the ground at 65 miles per hour, and the car came to a grinding halt. Fortunately, nothing exploded, and Vondra was able to get to the side of the road and wait for the police.

Three People Charged Following ‘Cash for Crash’ Investigation

Three people have been charged for insurance fraud as part of the ongoing enquiry into ‘cash for crash’ scams in West Yorkshire.

Over the past 10 months West Yorkshire Police have been working in close conjunction with the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) to expose thousands of pounds worth of alleged false motor accident claims.

Family Arrested for Insurance Fraud Scam

Los Angeles police this week arrested several relatives of Curtis H. Connor, who is accused of heading a major auto insurance fraud scam with his family.

The homes of more than 40 people suspected of aiding Connor in allegedly running the longest standing and biggest insurance fraud scam in Los Angeles, were raided by authorities Thursday, the Los Angeles Times reported

Proposal for State Takeover of Fraud Probe Might Harm Rural Counties

A proposal for the state to take over fraud investigations of county-administered public assistance programs has apparently been put on hold for this year.

County family services officials, say, however, that they fear the proposal will resurface next year.

Arizona Rep. Rick Renzi Pleads Not Guilty to Fraud, Extortion

Arizona Congressman Rick Renzi has pleaded not guilty to federal charges including insurance fraud, extortion and money laundering.

Former Hunterdon YMCA CEO Sentenced for Insurance Fraud

The former CEO of the Hunterdon County YMCA was placed on three years probation and fined $5,000 Friday for defrauding the organization's health insurance carriers. Morris Stuart Baer, 46, of New York City, was also ordered to serve three days in Hunterdon County Jail and make full restitution. Baer appeared Friday before state Superior Court Judge Roger Mahon, sitting in Flemington.

Statewide Sting Nets Fraud Suspects

A recent anti-fraud operation targets 84 suspects from Pensacola to Miami. Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink recently announced 62 Floridians have been arrested in a statewide, three-day operation that began earlier this month, targeting 84 individuals for various insurance fraud charges. The arrests, which range from Pensacola to Miami, involve alleged fraud schemes uncovered during months-long investigations with millions of dollars in potential losses. Arrests included a Clearwater couple accused of title insurance fraud estimated at more than $7 million.

Five Brokers in Insurance Fraud

Five independent brokers had been identified as allegedly using personal client information to submit unauthorized policy applications to Liberty Life, the financial services group said yesterday.

Clements' Defamation Suit Moved to Federal Court

The trainer sued for defamation by Roger Clemens after saying he injected the major-league pitcher with performance enhancing drugs has moved the lawsuit to Houston federal court.

Doctor And Nurse In Cancer Insurance Fraud

A doctor and his nurse wife have been found guilty of a 731,000 euros fraud after falsely claiming she had breast cancer.

Dr Emad Massoud, 52, and wife Gehan, 45, from Ratoath, County Meath had insurance cover for serious illnesses.

They received the money from insurance companies in 2002 after successfully claiming Mrs Massoud had breast cancer.

Glass Guys Auto Glass Owner Indicted for Theft and Insurance Fraud

The owner of The Glass Guys Auto Glass Co. in Chandler, Ariz., has been arrested for nine counts of theft, one count of fraud and one count of insurance fraud, according to a statement from the Arizona Attorney General's office. Bruce T. Riley, 41, was actually indicted in July 2007, but could not be located. Last Friday, though, the chase came to a halt, when the Chandler Police Department stopped him for a routine traffic stop—and realized they'd been looking for him.

Woman Faces Theft and Fraud Charges

A 35-year-old North Platte woman will face charges of theft and insurance fraud after allegedly embezzling from a local chiropractor and defrauding two insurance companies.

Sherri A. Smith, 2120 Sunset Drive, was cited into Lincoln County Court on an arrest warrant Jan. 15. She was released from jail after posting a bond of 10-percent of $20,000.00. Smith will be arraigned in court Feb. 22.

Consumers admit to insurance fraud, says NU

One in 10 people would exaggerate an insurance claim if they believed they would not get caught and 7% admit to actually committing fraud, says a Norwich Union report.

Insurers often face criticism for using non-disclosure as a scapegoat in order to avoid payouts, but they have also said consumers need to take their share of the blame.

Two Patients Sentenced in Western Pa. Chiropractor Fraud

Two women involved in a Westmoreland County chiropractor's insurance fraud scheme have been sentenced in federal court.

Fifty-year-old Judith Williamson, of Arlington, was ordered to serve three years' probation and pay $316,611 in restitution to Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield for false insurance claims.

Port of Seattle Says it Will Hire Fraud Investigator

The Port of Seattle says it will hire an independent investigator to look into possible fraud and contracting problems identified in a state audit.

The port is asking state Auditor Brian Sonntag to recommend an investigator.

Commissioner Bill Bryant says the investigation is needed to restore public trust in the port, which operates Sea-Tac Airport and shipping on the Seattle waterfront.

The state audit found the port wasted $97 million in spending, including some overruns on the third runway project at the airport.