Fraud of the Week

October 31, 2016

Fraudulent Death Claim—Florida

Amount: $48,731.64

 

A Florida woman is being investigated for fraud arising out of a fender-bender that happened in 2013. The woman claimed that her unborn child had been killed as a result of the accident. Although the fender-bender caused little to no damage to the vehicles involved, the woman filed an insurance claim for the death of her unborn child.

 

A search warrant was filed authorizing the search for the medical records of the woman filing the claim. The warrant depicts a complicated scheme where the woman used sonogram photos and FMLA forms from a previous pregnancy and changed the dates on the forms. She also somehow obtained a handwritten statement from a doctor saying she miscarried as a direct result of the accident.

 

The woman had been investigated for a fraud occurring in 2014 that led to the investigation of this incident. The total insurance settlement was for $48,731.64, including some money for a memorial for the unborn baby. The investigation is still impending, and the name of the fraudster has not been released because of an active criminal investigation. Charges have not been filed.