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Published: Feb. 10, 2021, 2:51 p.m.

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A Fictionalized True Crime Story -- "The Hawaiian"

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https://zalma.com/blog

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One of many Fictionalized True Crime Stories of Insurance Fraud from an Expert who explains why Insurance Fraud is a \\u201cHeads I Win, Tails You Lose\\u201d situation for Insurers. The stories help to Understand How Insurance Fraud in America is Costing Everyone who Buys Insurance Thousands of Dollars Every year and Why Insurance Fraud is Safer and More Profitable for the \\xad\\xad\\xadPerpetrators than any Other Crime. As you read the story and watch the video I hope they help you understand the effect that insurance fraud has on the perpetrators, the insurers, the people who need insurance, the people who buy insurance, and the people who keep the promises made by insurance policies.

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The Hawaiian

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The insured was a contractor in Honolulu. He created fraudulent jewelry appraisals and attempted to defraud his insurer. After a thorough investigation the adjuster proved the fraud to the insurer\'s satisfaction and "wrote a simple brief, letter to the insured stating as follows: \'Your claim is denied because it was presented by you with the knowledge that it was false and fraudulent.\'\\u201d

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He said nothing more. The adjuster, as required by law, reported his findings to the local police agency and to the U.S. Postal Inspectors. Both promised to complete a prompt criminal investigation and prosecute the insured for insurance fraud. On the fifth year after the denial, just before the statute of limitations ran, the U.S. Attorney caused the insured to be arrested for insurance fraud, wire and mail fraud. On the testimony of the adjuster and the secretary the insured was convicted. The court sentenced him to five years in jail, suspended on the condition that he actually serve 30 days and that he make restitution of $10,000 in investigation costs to the insurer.

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Five years have elapsed since his conviction. He is still making a living as a contractor in Hawaii defrauding his customers. He paid when the probation officer caught him what he told the probation officer he could afford. In five years the insured paid, on the restitution order that is a condition of his probation, a total of $250.00. His probation is over.

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The crime did not succeed. 

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He did not collect $500,000. The insurance company did not succeed. It paid out over $10,000 to its investigators which it will never recover and the ordered restitution was never paid.

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\\xa9 2021 \\u2013 Barry Zalma

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Barry Zalma, Esq., CFE

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