Insurance fraud is considered the one of the most common types of fraud in the United States. Fraudulent insurance claims can cause businesses to suffer and can have a ripple effect through the economy. It’s important to contact an insurance fraud investigator in Brentwood  the moment fraudulent activity is suspected, otherwise, your company may be responsible for the costs.

It is equally as important to find someone who has the proper qualifications to be your investigator to ensure the truth is uncovered in any fraudulent insurance claims. Here are a few considerations to keep in mind when hiring a fraud investigator.

Education

There is not a specific degree in private investigation that can be earned at a college or university. However, the skills of any degree can be useful to someone interested in private investigating. Fraud investigation involves research, writing and interviewing skills, which can be enhanced through coursework. Some private investigators have a degree in criminal justice and others that solely investigate insurance fraud often have risk management or business degrees.

Some technical and community colleges offer a certification program in private investigation. This coursework can be completed in just under a year. Some professional organizations also offer certifications, but they have their own standards that must be met. Typically, private investigators must adhere to the organizations code of ethics and pass an examination.

Training

A lot of knowledge also comes from time spent in the field and experience from previous jobs. A perfect example of this is people who were formerly in the military. They have experience working in high-stress scenarios that demand critical thinking, discretion, and determination. These skill sets are crucial to being a successful insurance fraud investigator.

Police officers and firefighters can also make strong investigators because of their experience finding evidence and solving cases. Regardless of who you choose as your Brentwood fraud investigator, it is important to find an investigator that has the skill set required to handle your case.

Licensing

Many states require that private investigators who work for insurance companies as consultants obtain special licensing. The specific requirements for obtaining a license are set by each individual state, there is no federal standard. Some states only require passing an ethics test and paying a fee, while others require proof of completed coursework and continuing education. Passing a background check and being free of felony convictions are both requirements that are held by most states.

When you are looking for someone to help you determine if insurance fraud is occurring within your company, make sure they have the proper qualifications. Our Brentwood insurance fraud investigators have over 10 years of experience working with insurance companies and can assist your business in putting an end to fraudulent activity.

For more information or to schedule a consultation, please call (913) 413-5911, or submit our contact request form.

It is estimated that Workers’ Compensation fraud accounts for 1/4 of all insurance fraud. To balance the cost of payouts associated with these fraudulent claims, insurance companies must charge more for premiums to remain profitable. These costs almost always fall on the business owners. For small to medium-sized firms this can prove to be devastating, and in extreme cases this may lead to laying off employees or closing the business.

Why an Employer Should Hire a Private Investigator

Insurance companies will often utilize a Brentwood insurance fraud investigator for significant claims or ones where fraudulent patterns are easily identified, but smaller claims can often fall through the cracks. These claims still affect your business and premiums, so quick action should follow when you believe an employee has submitted a false claim. It takes more than a hunch, however, to stop payments on a fraudulent claim. You’re going to need hard evidence that can be uncovered with specialized tracking and investigative techniques like the ones used by our insurance fraud investigators in Brentwood .

At Stonewall Investigative Group some of the strategies we use are:

1. Claimant Interviews

Investigators don’t want the subject to know that their behavior is being monitored, so rather than a one-on-one in person interview, questionnaires can be supplied to the claimant to evaluate the answers with previous statements given at the time of the alleged accident. Inconsistencies can serve as evidence against the validity of the claim.

2. Accident Research

Based off the reports given at the scene by the claimant and other individuals present, investigators will often find recreating the scene as an advantageous approach to uncovering falsities of the accident. Much like a crime scene investigator, the accident can be tested and reenacted to test the circumstances surrounding the alleged injury.

3. Background Checks

Individuals who submit fraudulent claims typically have a history of the same fraudulent behavior. This is where a background check can look for previously filed claims. A long history of on the job accidents is one of the primary signs that the situation should be further investigated. During this time, criminal history will also be evaluated to look for patterns in behaviour related to unethical activities.

4. Private Surveillance

One of the most effective strategies for proving a fraudulent claim is catching the individual red-handed in activities their injury should prevent them from doing. For example, if a claimant allegedly hurt their back to the point where they are unable to walk, work, or function without pain, and during surveillance the individual is seen moving furniture or working a physical job under the table, you now have absolute irrefutable proof that can be presented in court.

If you believe an employee has committed Workers’ Compensation fraud, our Brentwood insurance fraud investigation team will meet with you to gather all the information surrounding your case, and develop a comprehensive investigative strategy based off of the specific circumstances surrounding your case.

To schedule a consultation with one of our investigators, please call us today at (913) 413-5911 or fill out our contact request form.

Our Brentwood insurance fraud investigators understand the necessity of stopping individuals responsible for fraudulent claims. It is a burden not only held by the company themselves, but the general public, who become victims of increased policy rates.

To minimize these damages, it is important to understand how to spot fraudulent activity, so our Brentwood insurance investigators have provided three ways to uncover a fraudulent claim.

1. Research Claim History

A history of insurance claims is a major indicator that you may be dealing with a professional scammer. Most individuals that commit fraud, however, are smarter than filing claims under the same name or with the same insurance provider. For this reason, it is also beneficial to search claimants current and previous residences.

To get a more complete look into someones claim history beyond your company database, utilize an anti-fraud information system that houses claims from multiple insurance providers. This will allow you to search millions of past claims and current claims made for the same accident or loss.

2. Look at the Claimants Social Media Profiles

Lets face it, criminals are not the best decision makers, and with the world of social media, reviewing a claimant’s account is as simple as logging into Facebook or Twitter. While this may not seem like the most professional strategy, it works, especially when dealing with personal injury claims. A lot of supposed injured individuals will put out incriminating updates, such as walking around without a cast or doing a physical activity, that prove their injuries are non-existent or not as severe as being claimed.

3. Enlist the Help of an Insurance Investigator

Trained insurance fraud investigators in Brentwood  are experts at weeding out false claims and can be a huge asset to your firm. A recommended strategy for your company is after identifying fraud indicators and signs, bring the case to an investigator, who can get verifiable proof that will stand strong when brought before a judge. Brentwood insurance investigators will have resources, technology, and specialized techniques solely for the purpose of stopping criminals in their tracks.

At Stonewall Investigative Group, we are highly trained at conducting insurance fraud investigations in Brentwood  and have helped numerous companies not only collect proof to disprove a claim, but also bring charges against the perpetrator. So, when you suspect a false claim, we are here to help.

Request a consultation by calling us today at (913) 413-5911 or submitting our contact request form.

According the to The Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, fraud costs the American people and businesses $80 billion dollars each year. An insurance fraud investigator in Brentwood , like Stonewall Investigative Group, can assist you after the crime has taken place, but how can insurance fraud be stopped altogether?

To help you implement proactive solutions to combat fraud, our insurance investigators have provided tips on how to spread awareness and enlist the help of the general public to bring about change.

1. Create an Awareness Campaign

Outreach campaigns are a very effective way to reach the general public. Insurance fraud statistics and data can be shared through email marketing, direct mail, and social media to bring light to fact that fraud is not a victimless crime. There are also established campaigns from organizations like The Coalition Against Fraud that can be used as a resource to develop ideas and strategies for sharing this information.

2. Highlight Fraud Arrests and New Laws

A monthly newsletter can also be utilized to spread information about insurance fraud, but specifically to highlight busts from insurance fraud investigations, criminal convictions, and new harsher penalties. This will act as reminder that committing insurance fraud is a crime that comes with real consequences.

3. Develop an Anonymous Hotline

Many people don’t take a stand against fraudulent behavior for fear of being found out. This can be avoided by creating an anonymous hotline that can be utilized by policy holders and people with inside information about claims that are currently under investigation. Depending on the prevalence of insurance fraud for your company, it may also be beneficial to develop a rewards program for reporting fraudulent activity.

4. Partner with Local Legislators

As an insurance provider, you know what areas of the law allow perpetrators of insurance fraud to fall through the cracks. Share this knowledge with local legislators and work to develop new laws to close these gaps. Insurance fraud is a national issue. With a political figure acting as the face of the movement, there will also be greater opportunities to gain interest from local media outlets, and further spread awareness to the general public.

Conclusion

Internally, you may know ways to identify behaviors and monitor fraud, and may enlist the help of an insurance investigator in Brentwood . However, to put an end to insurance fraud altogether, proactive steps must be taken to end the crisis that is bankrupting businesses, costing people their jobs, and the American people billion of dollars in increased insurance rates.

Stonewall Investigative Group is a leading Brentwood insurance investigator and helps insurance companies catch criminals attempting to collect payouts on fraudulent insurance claims.

Request a consultation by calling us today at (913) 413-5911 or submitting our contact request form.