On the surface this discussion may not seem to be about workers’ compensation. But I assure you, it is. While the topic is identity theft; specifically, the recent theft of my identity, it is an opportunity to look at how our industry may be helping this booming criminal trend.

An indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Dallas this week charges Terry Lynn Anderson, 66, and Rocky Freeland Anderson, 36, of Dallas, with offenses related to their participation in an insurance fraud scheme, announced John Parker, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas.

Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones and Orange County District Attorney (OCDA) Tony Rackauckas announced a shutdown of a $40 million fraudulent medical billing and kickback operation with the filing of charges against more than two dozen doctors, pharmacists and business owners.

The former general manager of a golf club and a contractor have been arrested and charged with stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars, which led to the club’s demise.

Lamont Goodwin, 33, and Sylvia Camarillo, 31, were arrested yesterday by California Department of Insurance (CDI) detectives on multiple felony charges of insurance fraud after allegedly submitting a fraudulent claim and filing a false police report in an attempt to bilk their insurer out of $18,000 for damages not covered by their insurer.

Federal prosecutors say a man who scammed his way into getting an insurance company to ship out nearly 2,500 fraudulently obtained cellphones has been sentenced to serve more than five years in prison.

An indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Dallas last week, and unsealed Friday, March 24, charged eight individuals — including one Waxahachie resident — with offenses related to their participation in a $158 million health care fraud scheme.

A man charged with arson in the fire of historic Butler’s Mill has been charged with two additional counts relating to the incident. Court records show Christopher Lynn Phillips, the owner of Butler’s Mill, was charged with two counts of first-degree insurance fraud.

Adjusters who encounter hoarders on property claims can expect to have trouble in determining the cause of a covered loss as well as damages. Typically, a hoarder equals more risk of a property insurance claim.

Nine defendants were sentenced in federal court for participating in a massive insurance fraud scheme. The fraud involved material misrepresentations to health insurance providers and illegal payments to coconspirators and medical professionals, including physicians.

A former high-ranking member of the Prattville Police Department has been indicted on fraud charges. Leon Todd Townson, 50, of the 1500 block of Bridge Creek Road, was arrested Tuesday morning on indictments for insurance fraud and theft of property, an arrest report on file at the Autauga County Sheriff’s Office shows.

In January 2014, Stacy developed a lingering cough. By June, it had morphed into a hacking cough that would not cease. Something wasn’t right. Over a six-month span, Stacy went to her primary-care physician three times.

Police say a Columbus pastor who claimed burglars broke into home while he was preaching the gospel may have broken the 9th Commandment - the one about lying.

A New Windsor man pleaded guilty Tuesday to attempted arson and insurance fraud in a 2016 fire at a Town of Newburgh eatery he leased. Khaled Baroud, 61, admitted in Orange County Court to attempted arson in the March 13, 2016 fire that damaged USA Waffle, a waffle and bagel store at 440 South Plank Road.

An Ohio man claimed he was forced into a hasty window escape when his house caught fire last year. His pacemaker data obtained by police showed otherwise, and he was charged with arson and insurance fraud.