Tag Archives: Insurance Fraud

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)

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

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

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

Tallahassee Doctor Accused of Billing Insurers for Phony Medical Procedures

Dr. Moses D. Degraft-Johnson of the Heart and Vascular Institute of Northern Florida in Tallahassee is accused of taking $26 million from health insurance agencies for phony medical procedures. According to federal prosecutors, Dr. Degraft-Johnson allegedly went to hospitals, scheduled patients for unnecessary visits, and billed for the services that never occurred. In some cases, the doctor was traveling when he claims to have done procedures in his office.

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Filed under Fraud, Healthcare

Unlicensed Florida Doctor Arrested For Unlicensed Medical Treatments and Fraudulent Billing

Ozioma Maduka of Osceola Injury Center, LLC was arrested for allegedly practicing healthcare without an active, valid Florida medical doctor’s license as well as fraudulently billing unlicensed medical treatments. Maduka billed two insurance companies for more than $4,400 in claims for unlicensed treatment of auto accident victims.

Maduka could face up to 5 years in prison if convicted.

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Filed under Fraud, Healthcare

Florida Doctor Arrested for Allegedly Defrauding Nine Auto Insurers

According to a statement from the Florida Department of Financial Services, Dr. Celestino Santi was arrested for allegedly defrauding nine auto insurance companies our of more than $500,000 in unlicensed medical billing.

Investigators reveal that Santi was allegedly acting as a “straw owner” of Accident Care Center of Boggy Creek to disguise the identity of the unlicensed, true owner of the motor vehicle accident medical treatment center.

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Filed under Fraud, Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

Perry Police Searching for Possible Windshield Scammers

Police in Perry, FL are receiving reports about possible scammers billing insurance companies for windshield repairs but not completing the work. The reports say that two people claim to work for “At Home Auto Glass” out of Sarasota. Police are working to identify the suspects.

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Filed under Fraud

UPDATE: Roofer Convicted of Insurance Fraud in Duval Charged with Grand Theft in Clay

Jacksonville roofer Roger Van Den Bosch has been officially charged with grand theft in Clay County, just months after pleading guilty to insurance fraud, forgery and theft. In May, the Kinnecorps owner was convicted in Duval County and ordered to pay more than $50,000 in restitution, serve probation and do community service.

Prosecutors are now focusing on a Van Den Bosch’s felony grand theft charge, which he plead not guilty to in a case involving a Clay County homeowner.

Click here to read the article. (Previous post)

Filed under Fraud, Property (Homeowners)

Three South Floridians Arrested in Sober Home Health Care Fraud Scheme

Peter Port, 64, of Boca Raton; Brian Dublynn, 62, of Fort Lauderdale; and Jennifer Sanford, 57, Hollywood were arrested for allegedly billing health-insurance companies for services that were not performed or medically necessary. Port, Dublynn and Sanford made about $13 million in the scam through Safe Haven Recovery, a substance abuse treatment facility in Miami.

The trio was charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, health care fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering. They could face at least 20 years in prison if convicted.

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Filed under Fraud, Healthcare