Roofer busted
Three anti-fraud strike teams are diligently on the lookout for unscrupulous actors from Hurricane Idalia, another roofer who took money without performing repairs is arrested, the latest workers’ compensation fraud case, plus how to keep yourself safe from record fraud. It’s all in this week’s Fraud News.
Anti-Fraud Teams: Following Hurricane Idalia’s landfall on August 30, the Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) deployed the Disaster Fraud Action Strike Team to protect Florida residents and businesses from fraud. It consists of three teams of 23 personnel, including insurance fraud and workers’ compensation fraud detectives. The teams are positioned in the 16 Florida counties most impacted by Idalia. They work to ensure repair contractors follow the law, and educate and inform the public about the elimination of Assignment of Benefits (AOB) contracts.
There’s certainly proof this effort is needed and that this activity can sometimes slip through the radar of authorities. WFLA-TV reporter Mahsa Saeidi last week reported on the case of roofer Christopher Mouyos, who was arrested after two homeowners in Hernando County won civil judgments against him for taking their money and not repairing their roofs. The Sheriff’s Office had closed the case last year, deeming it a civil matter. Saeidi reported there was no action taken against Mouyos either by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, which licenses roofers in the state. When Saeidi started asking questions, the Hernando Sheriff’s Office reopened the case and arrested Mouyos two weeks later on three felony counts of Grand Theft.
Workers’ Comp Arrest: A DFS fraud investigation has led to the arrest of a Miami business owner. Miguel Porras, owner of Thiago’s Enterprise Construction was charged with Workers’ Compensation Premium Fraud and Grand Theft of more than $350,000 for actively concealing payroll to avoid paying a higher workers’ comp premium. Premiums are based on payroll totals and investigators say they determined Porras collected more than $5.9 million in labor costs that were unreported to his insurance company and would have resulted in an additional $357,000 in premium charges.
Fraud Advice: The Federal Trade Commission reports that consumer losses to fraud in 2022 amounted to $8.8 billion, a 30% increase from 2021! The biggest losses occurred in investment scams, including cryptocurrency programs, which cost victims $3.8 billion, double the 2021 losses. Technology is also aiding the scammers who often use social media, texting, and robocalls to your home or mobile phone. The AARP has this list of the 14 Top Scams to Watch Out for in 2023. Information is power and forewarned is forearmed!
LMA Newsletter of 9-11-23
