Category Archives: Fraud

Miami Chiropractor Charged With COVID Relief Fraud, Health Care Fraud And Money Laundering

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Filed under Fraud, Healthcare

10 Charged in $1 Billion Medical Insurance Fraud

Ten people have been indicted in a complex scheme to allegedly defraud private insurance companies of more than $1 billion for medical testing. The Justice Department unsealed the indictments Monday in Jacksonville, Florida. Eight of the defendants are from Florida. The others are from Atlanta and Chicago. The charges include conspiracy to commit health care fraud and money laundering.

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Filed under Fraud, Healthcare

Rise In Searches For ‘How To Set Fire’ As Economy Crashes

Internet search queries for “how to set fire” are spiking amid the downturn from the coronavirus pandemic, which experts say is a sign that some people may be planning to commit insurance fraud. Search term data compiled by Google shows that the number of users looking for information on how to start a fire grew by 125% in the last week of March.

Insurance companies are highly attuned to the potential for fraud, but risk experts believe it’s too soon to tell. There was a similar kind of anticipation around 2007 to 2009, “that we were going to see just ungodly amounts of insurance fraud triggered by an economic downturn,” said Frank Scafidi of the National Insurance Crime Bureau, but this never occurred to the scale some projected. They saw an increase in arson activity related to cars, however, where a vehicle would be reported stolen to an insurance company when the owner had a hand in the car’s disappearance.

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Filed under Fraud, Property (Homeowners)

Free CLM Webinar: Don’t Let COVID-19 Infect You with Insurance Fraud

There is no quarantine on fraud. Scammers and con artists don’t respect laws, individuals, or pandemics. While others are seeking to protect themselves and their families, these fraudsters are already out creating schemes and scams to profit from the COVID-19 crisis. Learn about those scams, how SIUs need to be ready and acting to fight COVID-19 fraud, and the lessons we all can learn from past experiences such as the 2008 financial crisis impact on fraud. The best way to “be prepared” is to “be aware”.

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Filed under Fraud

Jacksonville Woman Pleads Guilty to Disaster Fraud

Bernita Willette Carswell of Jacksonville pleaded guilty to one count of disaster assistance fraud. Carswell claimed her primary residence was damaged during Hurricane Irma, causing her to stay in a nearby rental property. The Federal Emergency Management Agency paid Carswell $15,024.80 in rental assistance, although she never actually left her home. She faces up to 30 years in prison, as well as paying restitution.

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Filed under Fraud, Property (Homeowners)

NICB Launched Online COVID-19 Resource Center Due to Surge in Insurance Fraud Schemes

The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) has created a new page on its website called the “NICB COVID-19 Resource Center.” The page provides the latest information on emerging fraud schemes due to an influx of insurance fraud cases tied to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Coalition Against Insurance Fraud (CAIF) recently sent out a statement regarding a surge of fake coronavirus health coverage schemes. It warned that robocalls, text messages, and email phishing attacks could fake insurance deals to consumers, asking them to pay for health or travel insurance premiums without delivering coverage.

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Filed under Fraud, Healthcare

UPDATE: Jacksonville Roofer Pleads Guilty and Pays Back Homeowner in Clay County

Jacksonville roofer Roger Van Den Bosch has paid back one Clay County homeowner and pleaded guilty to first-degree misdemeanor trespassing. He resolved a separate Duval County case, pleading guilty to four felonies, and agreeing to pay back the customers fully. Van Den Bosch and his company Kinnecorps still face a civil lawsuit from Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody.

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Filed under Fraud, Property (Homeowners)

Boca Raton Doctor Charged with Insurance Fraud

A Boca Raton osteopathic physician Dr. Max Citrin has been charged with insurance fraud for allegedly copying and pasting false symptoms for his patients. Citrin was charged with three felonies for submitting fraudulent claims to Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna and Humana, totaling nearly 1 million dollars.

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Filed under Fraud, Healthcare

Nation’s Largest Auto Insurer Sues South Florida Attorney and Two Local Hospitals

Geico claims Boca Raton lawyer Bobbie Celler of Emergency Recovery Inc. and Tenet Healthcare hospitals Delray Medical Center and St. Mary’s Medical Center schemed to bill the insurer for illegitimate claims. According to Geico, Celler, Emergency Recovery and the hospitals intentionally filed large volumes of misleading and confusing insurance claims in order to receive more payouts.

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Filed under Fraud

Tampa Police Detective Under Fire for Alleged Insurance Fraud Scheme

Sergeant Shane Gadoury of the Tampa Police Department was arrested for allegedly insuring his boat after it had already capsized. Gadoury is charged with filing a false and fraudulent insurance claim for knowingly insuring his capsized boat and submitting a claim. The detective has been placed on administrative leave and faces an internal investigation by the police department as well.

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Filed under Fraud