Fake Slip and Fall on Banana Peel at Goodwill Leads to Insurance Fraud Charge

An insurance fraud investigation in Connecticut has uncovered what authorities say was a staged slip and fall incident outside a Goodwill store. The fall, which occurred in August 2024, was initially reported as being caused by a banana peel in the parking lot. However, surveillance footage and physical evidence contradicted the story, prompting a deeper probe by local police and the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

Video from the scene allegedly shows the individual exiting a vehicle with a small dog and a bag before falling near a parked truck. Investigators found no evidence of a banana peel at the site and later determined that a bag strap or dog leash may have caused the fall. The story shifted again when the individual later claimed to have slipped on a broken lighter—though police concluded the item was not positioned where the fall occurred.

The attempted claim triggered over $2,500 in investigative costs for Goodwill’s insurance company. Further review also revealed a history of previous claims made by the same individual against other commercial properties. Authorities ultimately concluded that the fall was staged to deceive and defraud the insurer.

Following the investigation, the individual was charged with insurance fraud, a Class D felony under Connecticut law. A court appearance is scheduled as the case proceeds through the legal system.