A Florida report suggests workers insurance fraud cases are on the rise in the U.S.

CLEARWATER, FL - Even during a troubled economy, and possibly because of it, business has never been better for Paul Colbert.

His Meridian Investigative Group in St. Petersburg grew 50 percent last year, snooping on workers who fake on-the job-injuries to get workers' compensation checks.

That tracks with figures from the Florida Division of Insurance Fraud, which reported double-digit increases in workers compensation fraud during 2010.

"Some people make it a career," Colbert said. "They're career claimants."

Colbert has 100 investigators in 14 states, armed with covert cameras and producing about 100 surveillance tapes a week that show able-bodied workers who are suspected of pretending to be lame or sick.

In Florida, courts ordered restitution totaling more than $63 million in 1,676 cases of worker's compensation fraud in 2010, according to a report for the Florida Division of Insurance Fraud.

Workers faking or exaggerating work-related injuries make up the biggest share of the fraud, 39 percent, though employer fraud – including companies pretending to carry worker's compensation insurance when they don't – is the fastest-rising.


Link:
http://www2.tbo.com/news/consumer/2011/may/18/worker-insurance-fraud-up-but-bosses-do-it-too-ar-208002/