Other

THE ELEVENTH COMMANDMENT By Susan E. Clarke An investigation conducted by the Kentucky State Police, the U.S. Postal Service, and the U.S. …

SE HABLA ESPANOL? PARLEZ VOUZ FRANCAISE?  SPRECHEN SSE DEUTSCH? By Margie Stern FACTS The United States grants legal immigration status to more …

By Leslie Kim White sand beaches Flower scented breezes T-back bikinis Sunshine Wind-surfing Fresh seafood Rampant insurance fraud… Mike Anderson moved to …

In observing the sentences being handed down for insurance fraud crimes, I cannot help but wonder at the reason for the imbalance …

Best Headline Bloopers Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers Safety Experts Say School Bus …

It had to happen. The nationwide epidemic of litigation fever has spawned an explosion of lawsuits against attorneys, pushing legal malpractice rates …

                                          …

In keeping with their reputation as the feistiest little fraud-fighting county in the state of California (Editor’s Note: and we’d put ’em …

In a certain building located in LA’s 6000 block of Wilshire Boulevard, PI attorney Jeremiah Slimebag shared an office with his deaf …

So, there you are, stuck at your desk in Wisconsin, when you receive a suspicious claim originating in Alabama. What should you …

By Diane Kellner Arab World The incidence of fraudulent death claims in the Middle East is increasing. Countries in this area of …

By Dan King If the investigator compares “Appendix C” and determines that the group numbers have not been issued or are out …

HEY, BABY, WHAT’S YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER? Editor’s Note: In our May/June 1994 issue, we published an investigative “HOW-TO” guide to social …

In 1964, a San Francisco attorney represent­ed a woman who claimed to have been in­jured by a cable car. The lawyer claimed …

Dr. Arthur Porter has quite a story. Originally born in Freetown, Sierra-Leone, Porter was educated in Africa and at Cambridge, Harvard and …

… to John Romero, upon his retirement from the top spot in the Lawrence, Massachusetts, police department. Romero was the power behind …

FightFraudAmerica.com went live about six months before the refocusing of two of the fraud-fighting support organizations known primarily by their initials. One …

By Dennis B. Kass The first step in combating insurance fraud is to recognize that there truly is a problem. Is there …

CERTIFIED DOCUMENT EXAMINERS AND FRAUD Graphology is a combination of the Greek word graphein, which means “to write,” and the suffix “ology, …

IN CASE YOU EVER WONDERED ….             No Language Family Script(s) Used Speakers (Millions) Where Spoken (Major) …

SPEAKING OF NAMES… Two of the names from the 90210 (divided by) 31 ( (+ or -) 5 million = 33 (to the …

THE NEW MATH — THE MATH OF FRAUD Now put it into a story problem, sez you! How about this: 90210 resident …

(We Are Equal Opportunity Offenders)   [color-box color=”blue”] Claims Reps A distraught policy holder called her company to report that her house …

One of the best kept secrets is learning how to figure out what groups participate with one another in criminal activity — …

In the last issue we wrote about Cassie Chadwick, the woman who really should have had the Ponzi scheme named after her …

In a mid-April announcement, two people are charged with pig-skin fraud. Marcus Buckley, New York Giants linebacker now living in Texas, has …

By Barry Zalma, Esq., CFE © 2013 Insurance claims handling is a profession that requires a jack-of-all-trades and a master of insurance …

A recent South Carolina investigation has revealed a case of “Not.” A sure finalist in the “Sickest Frauds in Recent History” competition …

                    Latin America: An abrazo (hug) or beso (kiss) is a typical …

      If you’ve ever wondered what the number and distribution of fraud complaints filed with the FTC in a …

By L. Burke Files There are state laws, local laws, and federal laws all dealing with ID theft, and yet it still …

By John Garrison There are two approaches to healthcare. Doctor Number One will treat the symptoms. A pill for this, an injection …

It can happen to anybody, even the guy who makes prisoners wear hot pink jumpsuits and eat peanut butter sandwiches. Arizona’s toughest …

Seeking candidates with a wide variety of experience = You will need to replace three people who just left. Problem solving skills …

By Barry Zalma Some people act too smart for their own good. They want to commit a fraud but don’t know how. …

By Ed McArdle Remember just a couple of years ago, when having your own voice mail was the leading-edge business office technology? …

By Thomas M. Bower Many lawyers in private practice, regardless of their years at the bar, often find themselves wondering what clients …

By L. Burke Files We hear so much about slumlords and how they steal property. Basically, they buy it cheap, collect rent …

By Robert P. Hartwig, Ph.D. The Insurance Information Institute estimates that frauds perpetrated against property/casualty insurers totaled about $21 billion in 1998. …

By Dennis Kass, Esq. INTRODUCTION Imagine a football game where your team never plays offense. For the entire game, you field only …

Joe Trucker opened his mail and found an offer for commercial trucking insurance from Writer’s Direct Incorporated. The prices looked too good …

By Wayne R. Centanni, CLI What is a pretext? Simply put, it’s telling a lie in order to receive information from a …

By Barry Zalma There is a disturbing trend entering the law. Judges, jurors and administrative law courts, if convinced that a fraud …

(Editor’s note: Well, we finally did it … convinced the Computer Search Guru of the Western States to write a column for …

By Warren Wellen I am an attorney who defends and investigates suspected fraudulent claims. I have had many opportunities to review transcripts …

The memorabilia market boosts the economy by an estimated $1 billion a year. Baseball trading cards, autographed baseballs, autographs of famous historical figures  all …

In February 1999, the California Department of Insurance issued a Cease & Desist order against Alejandro Corral of Downey and Travel Guard …

To those with airline mileage accounts, free flights are right around the corner if you keep up to date on free mile …

The New York Department of Insurance is now accepting electronic reports of insurance fraud from companies doing business in the state. Using …

After reading these clues… John Montalbano (Darn smart investigator for GEICO) will be staying at the Wyndham Palace (the site hotel for …

It would include: * 584 Asians * 124 Africans * 95 Eastern and Western Europeans * 84 Latin Americans * 55 former …

Under ordinary circumstances, we’d give you the questions and withhold the answers.  But this puzzle is just too darn HARD if we …

Goshawk Syndicate (GS), a London-based insurance underwriter, is screaming FOUL. Basing their agreement to insure the big money prizes given out on …

 You know the feeling. Like a drug addict craving his next fix, it creeps up. You’d do ANYTHING for a chocolate bar. …

Martha Rosa Olivera of Ceres, California, was advised by the DEA that her vehicle was being seized as a result of a …

The Not Smart Pilot In August of 1998, Paul Franklin Ostrove of Hermosa Beach, California, ran out of gas. Unfortunately for Ostrove …

Credit Card Fraud Drops – The 1999 loss statistics (USA) are in and the picture is promising. Visa reported a record low …

By Bill Lundy Something is happening in the insurance fraud world. I hunch it is not necessarily by design that it is …

By Leslie Kim It’s inescapable. No place or person holds immunity. Succinctly stated, fraud happens. Even the Editor of the John Cooke …

“Competitive Salary” – We remain competitive by paying less than our competitors. “Join Our Fast Paced Company” – We have no time …

By Donald A. Kohtz Most investigators love the hands-on aspect of investigations and the challenge of catching the fraudster. However, some investigators …

By John Wood Freedom of Information Center http://www.missouri.edu/~foiwww/index.html A good starting point for those looking into “freedom of information” (FOI) matters via …

By George Michael Newman DNA. Blood Spatter. CD ROMs and the Internet: the last decade has generated revolution after revolution in methods …

By Robert von Esch III, Esq. With the expanding use of experts and their hefty fees, creative alternatives should be considered to …

Having trouble with your sales presentations? Want to dazzle your friends at parties? Try working the following facts into the conversation: * …

The words “insane” and “Insanity” are not recognized medical terms; they are, however, recognized legal terms. The initials “B.C.” (Before Christ) are …

Click on http://www.allianceai.org and tune into a wealth of information provided by the Alliance of American Insurers. Move over tohttp://www.insurancefraud.org and find …

How may we investigate? Let us count thy governmental and law enforcement ways. In alphabetical order, here’s a list of the ones …

Thinking of expanding your area of business? Considering going international with your services? Looking toward far off places, with dollar signs dancing …

Over 700 fraud fighters gathered recently at the Burbank Hilton to hear the annual “State of the NICB” message. Here are some …

Thomas Passmore saw the number 666 on his right hand so he sawed it off. Upon seeing the number, Passmore recalled the …

The Coalition Against Insurance Fraud estimated that $877 million per annum went to fraudsters. In response to the existing problem, and …

Don Ray’s Privacy Tip Don’t sue anyone. Remote voice mail. Consider not voting. Don’t enter contests. Get married overseas. Postal services PO …

During 1997, Washington is averaging about 10 bank robberies per week, most occurring in the Seattle area.  Only California, Florida, New York …

By Dorothy Montague Do you travel a lot?  Or perhaps you are planning to open a small business and don’t want to …

By Byron Bales and Diane Kellner When it comes to reports of American citizens who have died abroad, the answer to the …

By Daniel R. Brownlee Although there are more than a dozen independent states lying along the eastern coastal area of the African …

Two Worcester attorneys, partners in one of Massachusetts largest workers’ compensation law firms, were recently indicted along with five of their clients …

By Byron Bales China is rapidly becoming more accessible to outsiders. Just a few years ago, those who wanted to visit China, …

By Robert Scott Sr. An aspiring Hollywood Starlet suddenly files a sexual harassment suit against a producer, claiming to have been the …

The Pelonomi Hospital is located in Free State, South Africa. A major mystery had everyone abuzz. Every single Friday morning, for …

Okay, we confess. The following story really has absolutely nothing to do with insurance but it’s just one of those tidbits that’s …

By Joan E. Feldman The growing use of electronic mail and other electronic evidence in litigation is having a profound effect …

Combining a PC and a video camera, video conferencing will give the insurance adjuster – and the claimant – real-time, face-to-face access …

Harry Brainless (the names have been changed to protect the not so innocent) purchased a brand new Jeep Grand Cherokee with the …

By Michael McLarney John Williams was stopped at a traffic light in his employer’s delivery van. He was looking to his left, …

When investigators compared the accounts to locate the point of compromise (POC), they found that each card in question had been used …

Andrew S. Pitts, according to many, had it all.  After graduating from DePaul University Law School in Chicago, Pitt  worked as …

(The following article is reprinted from FRAUD FOCUS, the publication of the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud) A privacy bill introduced by Senator …

Editor’s Note: These gems have been making the fax machine rounds for years. We print them here for your amusement… “A pedestrian …

By Howard Goldblatt Since it’s that time of year, when we start thinking of summer and the end of school, we thought …

From Florida – Advisory of Bank Fraud Against Senior Citizens. The Orlando Police Department and Orange County Sheriff’s Office are beginning to …

REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION X-FILE BACKUP:  SPACE CULTISTS LOSE GRIP The underwriter that insured the 39 Heaven’s Gate cultists who committed suicide last …

By Dr. Alexander Gorkin Editor’s Note: I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Gorkin when I traveled to Moscow in late 1995. …

According to a survey done by the International Financial Law Review and reported in London’s Guardian, lawyers in London are the highest …

By Michael Kessler You’re in an enormous warehouse, filled with thousands of garments bearing the names of all the top designers: …

By Trevor Jones Sometimes, more goes missing than can be believed. Lloyd’s was hit with a spate of coffee related claims from …

According to a survey by the Association of British Insurers (ABI), British fraud levels fell for the fourth year running in 1996. …

Excerpts from a recent report from California Attorney General Dan Lundgren:  Russian organized crime has grown rapidly over the last five years, …

Richard Lee Hamrick chose an odd head-covering to use while robbing a Seattle area Safeway Supermarket … a pair of bikini …

MedLaw is the code name for a statewide investigation, initiated by Sacramento based agents of the FBI, the IRS and the California …

By Susan E. Clarke The first insight into this issue’s Man Behind The Mystique comes from the telephone. When I call him, …

By James “Rick” Youngblood CFE Corporations throughout the world are faced with the problem of dealing with ethical violations by those in …

By Charles Pfeister With the explosion of data sources available on the Internet, most investigators are aware of the great potential of …

Here is a condensed guide to drivers licenses in all fifty states and the District of Columbia. We’d like to thank the …

Expired licenses. Do not accept an expired license as identification. Uneven surfaces, especially by the picture or the birthdate. This may indicate …

When the Federal Trade Commission convened a meeting of industry, consumer groups and government regulators to address the problem of identity fraud, …

The immigration services business was a darn good front. The operators of the business were able to glean employment information from their …

Imagine how you would feel if you found out someone else was using your identity. Now imagine how you would feel …

In a crackdown against a new breed of investment scams, through both tele-marketers and the internet, Canadian and US authorities are …

Michael Kelleher, formerly an adjuster with Chubb & Son Federal Insurance Company in Long Island, New York, may have moved a few …

By Barry Zalma Reprinted with Permission The claimant wore thick lens plastic eyeglasses. He literally fell into a life of fraud. …

We’ve said it before; we’ll say it again. Nobody is immune when it comes to financial shenanigans. Most unfortunate, however, is the …

Q: Did you not attempt to sharpen any image? A: Yes no. Did I not attempt? Q: Did you attempt? A: Yes, …

By Tim Bullock It’s that time of year.  The approach of winter weather and the yearend holidays coincides with what has become …

By Robert K. Cofod At a recent BAI conference on fraud prevention, a senior representative from a megabank related that his bank’s …

No guarantees on the validity of the following. It’s one of those anonymous fax things and we’re printing it for entertainment value …

By Richard Stutheit Ten percent of all claims are said to be fraudulent in nature. Recent studies have put the level of …

By Michael Diegel It’s been gratifying to see that a number of states have moved quickly on an anti-fraud agenda during the …

On to 1997 … NAIC Planning Busy Year The anti-fraud committee of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners is moving forward on …

By Anthony Zammuto When selecting a surveillance or special investigation vendor, the decision maker will typically speak with a sales representative, look …

Editor’s Note: Here’s an interesting tidbit gleaned from the Smith & Brink Report (Free to the fraud fighting industry contact Dan Wood …

The Colorado governor has signed a bill that should serve as an example to other states around the country.  Auto body …

By Anne Silver Conway, M.S., M.A. Handwriting examination can be a valuable tool in the investigation of fraud; however, the field of …

By Howard Goldblatt The 1997 legislative season is shaping up as the most active ever in terms of initiatives affecting insurance fraud …

At least $2 million in credit card proceeds is believed to have been funneled out of the US, and one of …

By: Robert A. Von Esch, Esq. The Examination Under Oath (E.U.O) is a proactive and cost-effective tool to defeat false, fraudulent and …

So there I was, Madame Editor, sitting at my desk, minding my own business, not messing with anybody. And there she was, …

by John H. Wood Switchboard (URL: http://www2.switchboard.com/), World Yellow Pages NETwork (URL: http://wyp.net/) and BigBook (URL:http://www.bigbook.com/) are free nationwide residential and business …

The California Department of Insurance (DOI) has announced that it will soon begin conducting performance audits of all special investigation units (SIUs). …

By Dennis B. Kass The endless hours of charting, linking and performing computer searches have finally paid off. After months of investigation, …

By Russell B. Merlette Insurance companies tend to be very departmentalized. It is often the case that the claims handlers and personnel …

As a result of limited administrative resources, most insurers rely upon the basic integrity of the provider population, paying claims prior to …

California installed some get-tough-on-fraud laws and one that took effect in 1992 just paid off. Several insurance companies are cheering the Superior …

When hiring translators for recorded statements, depositions or other legal proceedings, take the time to thoroughly check the credentials of the individual …

By Ira T. Deutsch During the first week of March 1997, my company was exhibiting at the California Self Insurers Association convention …

Editor’s Note: Every investigator has a favorite story; something that happened in the course of an investigation that was unexpected, enlightening, entertaining …

Americans are generally more willing to see people prosecuted for insurance fraud than they were five years ago, though wide gaps still …

In this issue, beginning on page 7, you’ll find a discussion on the “proper” way to run an SIU. Because we believe …

Live in Texas? Wanna be a risk manager? An insurance agent? An adjuster? A title company escrow officer? A life insurance counselor? …

Just when we finally learned to spell his name, Al Toczydlowski (former chief of the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Insurance Fraud Unit (PDAIFU)) …

By Brian C. Jayne Three weeks ago Joe Smyth submitted a theft claim for his 1990 Camaro and he is anxiously waiting …

The federal government has awarded the prestigious “Department of Health and Human Services’ Award” to one of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s …

Okay, what do the following people have in common? Barry Zalma, JCIFR columnist, attorney, author; Jerry Treadway, Acting Bureau Chief of the …

The number of arrests suspects charged by the District Attorney’s Insurance Fraud Unit for 1997 has already surpassed 200. Included in the …

By Judy Anderson, J.D. I work in an applicant/plaintiff medical clinic. Like many people on this side, we are legitimate. Unfortunately, we …

By Richard Stutheit Ten percent of all claims are said to be fraudulent in nature. Recent studies have put the level of …

By Jim Cronin Buying software to aid in investigations is analogous to going to the local supermarket to buy a quart of …

No question about it. This issue’s SFT column recognition belongs to William Angus Barter of Oregon. Police cited Barter for forgery in …

The immigration services business was a darn good front.  The operators of the business were able to glean employment information from their …

It is not clear when banana peels were first transformed from fruit casings, or the occasional prankster’s prop, into instruments of a …

Sacramento – At least 36 people have been arrested and more are sought after a two-year investigation into what Department of Insurance …

EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW BUT WERE TOO BUSY TO ASK – Bunco Schemes There are almost as many Bunco Scheme …

It sounds just like the plot of a Hollywood movie. A gang of crooks, responsible for the theft of more than 280 …

When the new tenants arrived with a truck full of furniture and a receipt for the first month’s rent on the …

By Bill Kizorek and Scott Finger You, the witness, are the centerpiece. All are gathered to hear your story so that facts …

According to the petition of Missouri resident Joyce Lehr, who is suing the county because she fell in an icy, unplowed …

By Linden Management I have been traveling to Nigeria regularly since 1989 and have experienced many unusual scenarios. In May 1994 …

Investigators with online capabilities can go alias hunting, which often leads them to uncover related but otherwise undetected injury claims. An …

One of the problems encountered when dealing with currencies from other countries is understanding the differences between these currencies. Those intent on …

By Leroy Cook Investigators in the United States vary greatly from one another in their backgrounds, competency, size of business and, yes, …

The State of New Jersey, under fire by The Chiropractic Alliance of New Jersey, recently agreed to settlement of a federal …

After two Florida insurance executives from Aanco Underwriters were found guilty, it came time to pass sentencing. The men had been charged …

By Susan E. Clarke Staff Writer The following letter came addressed to me. Not to occupant or resident, but directly to me, …

It’s bad enough when your credit card is stolen; but what do you do when the thief steals even more? What can …

It was a darn good scam – while it lasted. Brothers Norris “Mickey” Melancon and Robin Melancon have been carted off …

In an attempt to stem future “Off The Wall Lawsuits” making it into the pages of The John Cooke Insurance Fraud Report, …

AK Up to 7 digits. AL 7 digits. AR Social Security number or assigned 8 digits (licensee’s option). AZ Generally Social …

By Leroy Cook As I walked down the stairs from the plane in Sofia, Bulgaria, April 17, 1996, I couldn’t miss the …

By Brian C. Jayne The nature of the credit card industry, being geographically widespread with an emphasis on making credit card …

David Kopecky was a worker for Hennepin County’s adult protection division. His job was to take on cases of assisting individuals …

So, is he really running around writing a series of bad checks, kiting funds and financially mismanaging his bail bond company? …

It happened in April of this year; at least that’s when it began. A tiny pimple, one we should have paid …

By Leslie Kim I can hear the buzz among readers who have met me in person … How can that blonde …

Five Star Insurance Company’s VP of Claims, Robert Dalton, reports the arrest of two insureds for insurance fraud. Amid Kinapi, 34, of …

It’s the talk of Pope County in west-central Minnesota. Barry Erickson, a 36-year-old farmer from Glenwood, has been charged with seven …

The crime of fraud is an equation. It consists of pieces. This criminal plus that method plus an element of opportunity …

Break out the glass, Lass. Just switch the VIN, Lynn. Jimmy the door, Egore. Duplicate the key, Bee. Hotwire the Ig, …

They lived in a $400,000 home, owned two more rental homes, had a hefty savings account and a good income from a …

Results of a fraud exposure survey by the accountancy firm of Ernst and Young indicate Australian businesses are suffering a seepage of …

What you’re about to read is a true story, scout’s honor. But does flight insurance cover something like this? One of the …

It was the stuff that mushy romance movies are made of. There he was, a nine-year veteran of the New Jersey …

San Diego County, a place where hundreds of people have been victimized by fraudulent real estate transactions, is taking some action to …

They’ve been at it for a year and efforts thus far have saved a whopping $350,000 in bogus claims. Since the program …

The coalition Against Insurance Fraud is a broad-based group established in June 1993 to combat the growing incidence and cost of …

In 1964, a San Francisco attorney represented a woman who claimed to have been injured by a cable car. The lawyer …

Editor’s Note: This month’s winning entry is unusual because the writer has requested to remain anonymous. “I am not asking for personal …

DAVID BALLOG – “Inside the Man, Inside the Reason” (July/Aug 1995 issue). David was sentenced to a 20-month prison term. He …

New York Law Journal, April, 1994 The Jury Verdict Reporter conducted a ten-year study of the breakdown of jury verdicts awarded in …

“State authorities having to play catch-up in insurance-claim scam” “Clinics dispense more paper than medicine” “Fraud Probe: Lack of control can lead …

EDITOR’S NOTE: THE FOLLOWING CAME IN AS A LETTER TO THE EDITOR, BUT WE FELT IT DESERVED A SEPARATE PLACEMENT BECAUSE IT …

By Leslie Kim NICB agent Bill Ports, who works the Port of Los Angeles with three US Customs agents on the Operation …

For those readers dealing in foreign claims, it helps to know that the American system of six-digit Gregorian calendar dating (i.e. 040195) …

ROM STABLES TO STASHES OF CASH, 1994’S TOP 10 INSURANCE SCAMS ARE DEVIOUS AND DIVERS WASHINGTON, D.C. – They’re diverse, devious …

By John A. Marder, Esq. California has more than a dozen different laws dealing with the problem of “capping” and “running.” Business …

COALITION PASSES MODEL BILL ESTABLISHING FRAUD UNITS Washington D.C.—States would get a new full-fledged law enforcement unit devoted to fighting the multi-billion …

On April 25, Michael Schreiber, the owner of Schreiber Coach Works, a south Florida body shop, pleaded no contest to two felony …

By Robert F. Kegel, Staff Writer Investigations of fraudulent insurance claims, especially those of the disability and/or workers’ compensation variety, often …

We have fielded hundreds of phone calls since the premiere issue of “The John Cooke Fraud Report” rolled off the presses at …

Editor’s Note: These gems have been making the fax machine rounds for years. We print them here for your amusement… “A pedestrian …

In spite of support from over 400 organizations throughout the state of Arizona, Propositions 103 and 301 were soundly rejected by Arizona voters on …

Statistics report that combined efforts by law enforcement agencies, insurance companies and consumers are putting a dent in auto theft. The number …

By Leslie Kim I can hear the buzz among readers who have met me in person …  How can that blonde …

PRIOR TO REFERRING an alleged fraud case to the Nevada Attorney General for possible criminal prosecution on workers’ compensation fraud, the following …

AROUND THE COUNTRY COLORADO Willful misrepresentation by an insured can now result in coverage being revoked DELAWARE A bill to create a …

Editor’s Note:  The following article is presented in QUESTION(JCFR)/ANSWER(Di Liberto) format.  All answers were taken directly from comments delivered by John Di …

The Smoking Gun: Electronic messages and voice mail, candid and relatively casual forms of corporate communications, increasingly are providing the most incriminating …

A former student at the University of Idaho, Moscow, is seeking $940,000 as compensation for an “accident” suffered while living in …

By Impact General, Inc. The claim arrived on the adjuster’s desk looking like so many other claims. Rear impact, low speed, four …

Welcome Delaware to the growing list of states that arrest folks for committing insurance fraud. Wilmington resident Frederick Maahs, owner of a …

Copyright Michael Nielson 1991.  Reprinted with permission Traditional interviewing techniques used by law enforcement officers have not changed much in several decades.  …

Editor’s Note:  Just two weeks “out of the gate” with our Premiere Issue, we were faced with a major decision as to …

By Richard Harer Never in our history has there been greater and quicker access to public record information data.  As one major …

By Sherry Miller Credit headers can be a powerful tool if used effectively by the investigator.  Let’s look briefly at what credit …

By Susan Miura The red flags are shooting up one by one.  An injured employee has filed a workers’ compensation claim against …

By G. Andrew Nagle, Esq. Claim representatives and insurers face civil and criminal liability exposure for statements and writings made to others …

Oops! The September/October issue of The John Cooke Fraud Report (How the West Fights Fraud, page 16) erroneously reported that the State …

The John Cooke Fraud Report will focus on a different state in each issue and attempt to provide a glimpse of some …

The State of Utah is writing a success story when it comes to cracking down on fraudsters.  Since opening the doors of …

For those readers dealing in foreign claims, it helps to know that the American system of six-digit Gregorian calendar dating (i.e. 040195) …

By Susan Miura Like taking candy from a baby – for some, that is how easy it is to make a bundle …

By Stephen Taylor In San Joaquin County, several insurance fraud prosecutions have gone to preliminary hearings and one to jury trial. In …

By Leslie Kim If you are among the fortunate, you have heard David speak.  The National Insurance Crime Bureau, in a decision …

(with apologies to Dick Tracy) By Armando G. Cuellar, Jr. Friday afternoon found Elihu thinking about the weekend, the children’s soccer game …

By Robert W. Gottlieb The ultimate objective of the insurer in the adjustment of a claim is to achieve a fair result …

Stolen (without shame) from an issue of “SIU Perspectives,” the publication of the South Florida Chapter of IASIU. This excerpt is from …

By Joseph J. Sheehan Aggressive investigation of suspect claims can save insurers millions of dollars that might otherwise be paid out …

The California Senate Judiciary Committee voted 3 to 5 late at night on June 21 to kill Assembly Bill 2843. The …

FLORIDA The Florida State Legislature has inaugurated a new online service – free to all except for toll charges. Called “Online Sunshine,” …

We’ve added color and we’ve added eight more pages.  With increased advertising and a never-ending stream of material arriving, there was …

Welcome to the premiere issue of “The John Cooke Fraud Report.” Our Western States Edition covers fraud news from California, Oregon, Washington, …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Susan Nolan Candace Thorson NCOIL National Office 518-687-0178 Washington, DC, March 3, 2009 — Lawmakers at the National …

Interview: Lois Duncan “Who Killed My Daughter” The Story of Kaitlyn Arquette Editor’s Note: JCFR has been covering insurance fraud stories …

The insurance industry is required to follow stringent rules when filming claimants. There are restrictions on where you can film, what …

The year is 2017. The teleportation machine is still glowing as we walk into the building that houses “The Futuristic Insurance …

By:  Leslie Kim  When Vladymir and Svetlana Petrovich arrived in the US in 1991, part of a large group of Russians fleeing …

By Bill Lundy Some philosopher (of whose name I have no clue) once said, “The more things change, the more they remain the same.” Some …

By Bill Lundy There is no such thing as a Bad SIU. Now that’s quite a statement to be made in times …

© 2007  Barry Zalma, Esq., CFE Before insurance fraud can be discussed it is essential to understand that, as the Restatement …

Gift Card Fraud is the new kid in town. Plenty of towns, in fact. One of the more recent cases was just …

By Leslie Kim Many moons ago I found myself standing in front of a very large just-after-breakfast audience as an opening keynote …

The fraud and law enforcement communities have lost a champion. I’d like to tell his story, because it has relevance to …

More often than not, bodies are buried in US cemeteries with the head on the west end of the grave. Wondering …

By Leslie Kim Buenos Aires, Argentina September, 1999 The sights: The city is often called the Paris of the Western hemisphere. Ultra …