Tag: fraud
When They’re Not Accidents – Investigating Automobile Collisions
Most people refer to a vehicle collision as an accident. However, since there is liability associated with an accident, the term seems to be a misnomer. It is so common to refer to it as an accident that investigators in this field are often referred to as accident reconstructionists. If it is an accident, this [...]
How to Conduct an Effective Sub Rosa Investigation
Sub Rosa is a term we use so often in the Workers’ Compensation community that it is surprising how many do not know the original meaning. Sub Rosa is a Latin term meaning “under the rose”. The rose, a beautiful flower used to express love, is also the symbol of secrecy. In fact, in ancient [...]
All Investigations Lead to… Porn?
It all started with a joke… “All investigations seem to lead to pornography,” quipped Ryan Hubbs, a senior manager for Matson, Driscoll & Damico, Forensic Accountants, chatting with a group of colleagues at an ACFE conference a few years ago. Hubbs had spotted an odd pattern. Time after time, as he investigated claims of contractor [...]
Command Presence and Providing Efforts that Obtain Results
Obtaining successful results during a claims investigation or surveillance is dependent on the expertise and leadership of the professional investigator. Even though the client has the final say in scheduling, extending or reducing the number of days of surveillance and authorizing multiple investigators, the investigator should always posture themselves as the expert or specialist in [...]
Top 40 Red Flags which May Indicate Workers’ Compensation Fraud
Claims adjusters look for the presence of red flags in workers’ compensation (WC) claims to determine whether or not a claim is legitimate. Red flags consist of particular conditions or behaviors commonly found in fraudulent claims. While the primary responsibility of recognizing red flags lies with both employers and claims adjusters. Private investigators should at [...]
API Podcast: New Legislation, Investigating Financial Fraud and Events
In the May 2010 podcast of The American Private Investigator with your host, Paul Jaeb, Peter Psarouthakis of ISPLA talks about the status of legislation addressing Caller ID spoofing and the use of video surveillance. He discusses what investigators can do to stay involved as bills move through the house and senate. Nicole Bocra talks [...]
The Basics of Mortgage Fraud
In monitoring fraud activity across the United States, it has been no surprise to see so much attention to and interest in mortgage related frauds. Among the myriad of mortgage fraud schemes that exist, they generally fall into one of two categories, depending on their intended purpose: for property (i.e. housing) or for profit. Fraud [...]
Property Title Forensics
Real estate title records are a valuable source of investigative intelligence. By going beyond a simple “title search”, an investigator can discover factual data and intangible patterns which cannot be found elsewhere. True title research goes beyond just a database search of online or electronic title records. Obtaining the actual physical documents for examination takes [...]
Forensic Locksmithing
Forensic locksmithing is a relatively unknown field of investigative work that provides a much needed service to law enforcement, government agencies, and private companies. The forensic locksmith, also known as an investigative locksmith, analyzes lock and keying systems for evidence of compromise. This includes determining method of entry, the tools used, the time and skill [...]
