insurance fraud News

Fake Bear Attacks on Car for Fraudulent Insurance Claims Lead to Arrests

Four Los Angeles area residents were arrested after a California Department of Insurance investigation reportedly found the suspects allegedly committed insurance fraud by claiming a bear had caused damage to their vehicles. It turns out it was a person in …

Louisiana Contractor Charged for Allegedly Damaging Homeowners’ Roof

On an early August morning, a roofing contractor arrived at a Lafayette, Louisiana couple’s house and requested permission to inspect the home’s roof. The roofer’s arrival wasn’t unexpected. The couple, who go by Jordan and Sarah, had been approached days …

Good Faith Claim Handling in Fraud Investigations

Insurance fraud is rampant. It is considered to be the second costliest white-collar crime in America after tax evasion, costing consumers an estimated $308.6 billion each year. It may involve outright fraud—such as a staged accident, arson, identity theft, contractor …

Man Who Aided Former Adjuster in $268K Auto Insurance Fraud Scheme Sentenced

A Colorado man who aided a former insurance claims adjuster in an auto insurance claims scheme was sentenced this week. In 2020, Brassfield, 55, of Aurora, reportedly aided former Travelers Insurance employee Colette Palin, 63, of Aurora in committing fraud. …

Third Conspirator Convicted in Family-Run Check Cashing Fraud Scheme

A third conspirator has been sentenced to prison for her participation in a Florida check-cashing scheme that used shell companies to defraud the Internal Revenue Service and workers’ compensation insurers out of millions of dollars in payroll taxes and workers’ …

Calif. Work Comp Doc, Arrested Before but Not Convicted, Charged with Insurance Fraud Again

A Northern California doctor is charged — once again — with insurance fraud for allegedly overcharging workers’ compensation insurers for services at his pain management practice. The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office charged Dr. Gary Martinovsky and his office assistant …

Florida Authorities Charge 4 in Fraudulent Roof Claims, Issue Warrant for Contractor

Florida authorities have announced the arrest of four people in connection with an alleged scheme to deliberately damage roofs in order to qualify them for insurance claims. And another contractor well known to insurers was arrested in Fort Myers. A …

Claims Fraud: Maryland, California and Florida

Maryland A Maryland claims adjuster pleaded guilty to one count of theft after she was caught manipulating auto insurance claims so she could steal from her employers, Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown’s office said Thursday. Laurelle Monet Manley-Williams, 34, …

N.Y. No-Fault Fraudster Pleads Guilty, Agrees to Pay $40M in Restitution

A man whom federal prosecutors in New York say was the mastermind behind a $40 million automobile insurance fraud scheme pleaded guilty on Friday to bribery, health care fraud and identify theft charges. Alexander Gulkarov, 37, owned medical clinics in …

Claims Adjuster Forfeits Beach House, Will Serve Prison Time for Fraud Scheme

A former Allstate claims adjuster will spend one year and a day in prison and forfeit his beach house and pickup truck to the federal government after pleading guilty to wire fraud and money laundering. Federal prosecutors say 51-year-old Paul …