Fraud of the Week

January 23, 2017

False Claim Fraud—Kansas

Amount: $28,000

 

A man in Kansas was sentenced to serve thirty days in jail and twenty-four months' probation following the recovery of 140 pairs of collectible Nike's. The shoes were claimed stolen during an alleged burglary of the home while the occupants were on vacation in Colorado. A fraud investigation ensued when the other property that was allegedly stolen was determined to be fraudulently claimed because the place where the property (electronic equipment) was supposedly purchased did not exist. Despite being dropped by his insurance company for false claim fraud for the electronic equipment, the man maintained that his shoes had been stolen and pursued the case until the shoes were discovered in his home during a search by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).

 

A team of officials from the USFWS found the Nike's that had been allegedly stolen while conducting a valid search permitted by warrant of his home in connection with a case involving possible unregistered big cats brought into the U.S. The officials found the shoes and verified the suspected fraud from 2013.