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True Crime Stories of Insurance Fraud Number 29  

Barry Zalma, Esq., CFE presents videos so you can learn how insurance  fraud is perpetrated and what is necessary to deter or defeat insurance  fraud. This Video Blog of True Crime Stories of Insurance Fraud with the  names and places changed to protect the guilty are all based upon  investigations conducted by me and fictionalized to create a learning  environment for claims personnel, SIU investigators, insurers, police,  and lawyers better understand insurance fraud and weapons that can be  used to deter or defeat a fraudulent insurance claim.  He was a good employee. He arrived for work every day on time. He did  his job eight hours a day and never goofed off. He was loyal to his  employer. His diligence got him raises and promotions.  In 2009 his boss came to him and said: \\u201cThe recession has hit me hard. I  can\\u2019t afford to keep paying you. You are laid off.\\u201d  He was shocked. He could say nothing. He could do nothing to keep his  job. He packed up his personal belongings, said \\u201cgoodbye\\u201d to his boss  and left.  The next day, he went to the state office of unemployment. He filed the  first claim in his life for unemployment benefits. He was ashamed, but  had no choice.  Coming out of the unemployment office he met a pleasant man. Having  nothing better to do, he accepted the man\\u2019s offer of a cup of coffee.  They sat on a bus bench and talked about his troubles.  The man asked detailed questions about his job. He explained that the  employer was not alone. Other people were suffering just like he was. He  explained there was a way to tide him over better than unemployment  insurance.  The employee was dumbfounded.  \\u201cAre you offering me a job?\\u201d he asked.  \\u201cNo. I am only offering a way to make yourself some money without any  effort.\\u201d  The solicitor outside the unemployment office received a flat $500 fee  from the lawyer. The doctor, who billed $600 for the complete  examination and evaluation, gave the lawyer $200 as the lawyer\\u2019s fee for  the referral. Everybody did very well except the workers\\u2019 compensation  insurer and the employer whose business was having enough difficulties  without finding its workers\\u2019 compensation premiums increased.  The employee received a bonus on top of his unemployment benefits that  was sufficient to carry him into his new job with a small nest egg.  Rather than burning a building, the person committing insurance fraud  merely signs his name to a claim form. Although most insurance fraud is  not a violent crime, the crime of insurance fraud has become so rampant  that a task force akin to the one used to quell the Los Angeles riots of  1992 and 2019-2020 riots is needed. That such a task force was not  generated after the 1992 riots I doubt it will be started after the 2020  riots and Presidential election.  \\xa9 2022 \\u2013 Barry Zalma