Tag: fraud
Woman saws off own hand to collect insurance money
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia — Authorities say a Slovenian woman who deliberately cut off her hand with a circular saw to collect insurance money faces up to eight years in jail.
Police say the 21-year-old woman, helped by her relatives, had hoped to claim nearly 400,000 euros ($451,000) in insurance payments.
The unidentified woman claimed she had been cutting tree branches when she severed her left hand just above the wrist.
Officials say family members left the severed hand behind rather than bring it to the hospital to ensure the disability was permanent. But doctors recovered it in time to sew it back on.
Police say the incident happened earlier this year after the family had signed insurance contracts with five different insurance companies.
Police say “there was no payment because we discovered the fraud in time.”
via: https://nypost.com/2019/03/12/woman-saws-off-own-hand-to-collect-insurance-money/
Pamela Taylor – Woman who called Michelle Obama an ‘ape in heels’ defrauded FEMA of $18K
A former West Virginia nonprofit director who called Michelle Obama an “ape in heels” pleaded guilty to defrauding the Federal Emergency Management Agency out of thousands of dollars.
Pamela Taylor admitted to falsely registering for over $18,000 in FEMA disaster relief for a 2016 flood which was among the deadliest in West Virginia history, according to the Department of Justice.
Taylor claimed that her primary residence was damaged by the flood forcing her to stay in a rental. However, her primary residence was undamaged by the flood and she still lived there.
She agreed to pay restitution of $18,149.04 as a part of her plea agreement. She faces up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000 when she is sentenced in May.
“The flood was a natural disaster. Stealing from FEMA is a manmade disaster,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.
Following the election of Donald Trump as president, Taylor posted on Facebook: “It will be refreshing to have a classy, beautiful, dignified First Lady in the White House. I’m tired of seeing a Ape in heels.”
Taylor, who was a director of the nonprofit Clay County Development Corporation, was placed on leave after her controversial Facebook post.
via: https://nypost.com/2019/02/18/woman-who-called-michelle-obama-an-ape-in-heels-defrauded-fema-of-18k/
Fake doctor claimed to have the cure for diabetes
A Florida man who posed as a doctor claimed he could cure diabetes through a dubious procedure transferring the patient’s own blood back into them, according to officials
Onelio Hipolit-Gonzalez, 73, was arrested Tuesday in connection to a medical scam which advertised his services on a site called “Elclassificado,” according to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office.
Hipolit-Gonzalez posed in a white lab coat on the site and claimed he treated a range of illnesses from leukemia to multiple sclerosis, authorities said.
The Florida Department of Health alleges he never had a medical license in the state.
An undercover officer arranged an appointment last week with Hipolit-Gonzalez — who requested $160 for the visit and asked to meet at a residential home, officials said.
“Hipolit-Gonzalez checked the patient’s blood pressure and pulse and then placed a band around the patient’s head and had him hold a metal rod (both the band and the rod were connected to a machine on a table),” authorities said. “Once turned on, the machine began making beeping noises. Hipolit-Gonzalez told the patient, that the device was testing his heart, brain, intestinal system, bones, nerves, and ‘everything else.’”
When the test was complete, the so-called doctor diagnosed the patient with diabetes and osteoporosis, according to authorities.
Hipolit-Gonzalez then claimed he previously cured diabetes for another patient and could treat the undercover cop for $2,000.
Officials said he went on to explain that the treatment would include injecting the patient with “his own blood.”
The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office then intervened and brought Hipolit-Gonzalez in for questioning.
When asked about the bizarre procedure, Hipolit-Gonzalez said “he draws the patient’s blood, and then injects the same blood he just withdrew,” according to police.
“He said when the blood enters the body it ‘combats’ the blood cells and increases the immune system,” officials said.
In regards to his medical background, Hipolit-Gonzalez claimed he was a lab technician in Cuba then got a certificate in Florida for iridology, herbology and nutrition.
Charges were filed against Hipolit-Gonzalez for unlicensed practice of a health care profession and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
Hipolit-Gonzalez is being held on $10,000 bond.
via: https://nypost.com/2019/02/13/fake-doctor-claimed-to-have-the-cure-for-diabetes-cops/
Video shows man faking fall to get insurance money
And the award for worst actor in an insurance scam goes to …
A New Jersey subcontractor has been busted for staging a laughably bad fake fall — all caught on videotape — to score insurance money, authorities said Friday.
Alexander Goldinsky, 57, of Randolph is seen on the surveillance-camera footage first tossing ice on the floor in the break room at an unnamed Woodbridge firm last fall — then plopping down in a fake tumble, according to prosecutors.
In the footage, Goldinski, an independent contractor for the firm All Gold Industries, stands over the ice and looks around for a few moments before half-sitting, half toppling onto the floor.
He later filed a false insurance claim for an ambulance service and treatment for “injuries” at a nearby hospital, the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office said.
But the bad actor was busted for the scam after authorities launched an investigation into his insurance claim, officials said.
“The investigation revealed that Goldinsky purposely threw the ice on the floor in the cafeteria at his workplace, placed himself on the ground and waited until he was discovered,” prosecutor’s office said in a press release.
On Jan. 15, he was charged with insurance fraud and theft for the allegedly phony fall, which occurred between Sept. 1 and Nov. 1.
“Fraudulent claims cost everyone, and we will aggressively prosecute those who illegally manipulate the system,” prosecutor Andrew Carey said in a statement.
Goldinsky did not return a phone message from The Post seeking comment Friday.
But he claimed earlier to CBS that he was innocent.
“I didn’t do it, it was a mistake,” he said. He is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 7.
via: https://nypost.com/2019/02/01/video-shows-man-faking-fall-to-get-insurance-money-prosecutors/
Man faked Down syndrome to con caregivers into baths, diaper changes
An Arizona man is accused of pretending to have Down syndrome so he could hire caregivers who bathed him and changed his diapers, authorities said.
Police arrested Paul Anthony Menchaca, 31, at his parents’ home in Gilbert on Sept. 6 after his female caregivers discovered he didn’t have special needs, news station KTNV reported.
The first caregiver responded in May to an ad on CareLinx, a site designed to help families find licensed help.
Menchaca contacted and hired the helper while allegedly posing as a woman named “Amy,” who claimed to be the mother of a man with Down syndrome, according to AZFamily.
“’Amy’ asked all three victims to ‘punish’ [Menchaca] when he soiled his diaper by putting him in timeout and taking away his privileges,” an arrest affidavit obtained by AZFamily said.
The caregiver told police that she helped bathe and change the man’s diapers on 30 separate occasions. In five separate incidents, Menchaca reportedly told her that his genitals were not cleaned well enough.
She then referred the second caregiver in July and the third the following month.
All three women agreed to the same terms, and claimed that Menchaca would become sexually aroused when he was being washed.
The first victim told police she became suspicious and followed Mechaca back to his parents’ home.
“[The victim] was greeted by [Menchaca’s] actual mother and father and discovered [Menchaca] did not have Down syndrome and did not require diaper changes,” the police report said.
When the three caregivers confronted Menchaca, he reportedly admitted to lying about having Down syndrome.
Menchaca now faces charges for fraudulent schemes and sexual abuse.
Parents told 13-year-old son he had brain cancer in scheme to raise cash
FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. — Authorities say a Florida couple lied to their 13-year-old son about having brain cancer so they could use his fictitious illness to raise money for nonexistent medical expenses.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office says on social media that 34-year-old Ginny Long and 47-year-old Robert Long were arrested Thursday and charged with one count of child abuse and nine counts of fraud.
Detectives say the Longs set up a T-shirt fundraiser for the boy at his school last May and shared the bogus cancer diagnosis on their Facebook accounts. A GoFundMe site was also set up for the boy. The sheriff’s office didn’t say how much money was raised.
The sheriff’s office began investigating in November, after school resource officers began to suspect the boy was being exploited.
Jail records didn’t list attorneys for the Longs.
STEVE HARVEY SUED FOR ALLEGED FRAUD INVOLVING CHARITY Blames Oprah, Tyler Perry for Bad Financial Advice
STEVE HARVEY SUED FOR ALLEGED FRAUD INVOLVING CHARITY: Blames Oprah and Tyler Perry for Bad Financial Advice
Steve Harvey is being sued by someone who claims he was hired by the TV mogul to raise $20 million for the Steve and Marjorie Foundation as well as other ventures and got royally stiffed.
Vincent Dimmock claims he struck a deal with Harvey in April to raise the $20 mil, and in return he says he was promised 12.5% of everything he brought in. Dimmock says in the lawsuit he had access to high-level execs, A-list entertainers and political figures including a former President, and he got pledges for $20 mil.
According to the suit, Dimmock delivered on the first million but Harvey refused to pay him his commission.
Dimmock claims Harvey never intended to pay him and then goes on to make various allegations.
Dimmock says he introduced Harvey to an investor in May, and during their meeting he allegedly disparaged women, blamed Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry for giving him bad financial advice and also blamed Barack Obama for Harvey’s “disastrous meeting with Donald Trump.”
He says Harvey and his foundation were in bad financial shape because of a series of P.R. gaffes, including mocking Asian men and meeting with Trump.
We reached out to Harvey’s agent, Todd Frank, who tells TMZ, “It sounds fake. Steve is the most loyal guy in the world. I’ve never been stiffed on a commission from Steve Harvey in 21 years.”
Article via: http://www.tmz.com/2017/12/07/steve-harvey-sued-charity-fraud-oprah-tyler-perry/
Welfare employee stole $225K in food stamps, other benefits
An employee of the city’s welfare agency used inside knowledge to create fake accounts and steal more than $225,000 in food stamps and other benefits over seven years, the state inspector general said Tuesday.
Omar Jaata, 42, of The Bronx, and his wife, Nyima Jaata, 37, were arrested on multiple federal charges.
Omar Jaata was hired by the Human Resources Administration in 2010 — eventually reaching the rank of “eligibility specialist” — and almost immediately began overriding administrative safeguards to steal food stamps and benefits, officials said.
“The theft of welfare benefits meant for New York families most in need is egregious at any level, but these defendants’ actions, particularly with the husband’s position as a public employee entrusted with administering these funds, makes this case particularly abhorrent,” said state Acting Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott.
via: https://nypost.com/2017/11/28/welfare-employee-stole-225k-in-food-stamps/
Woman busted sprinkling glass shards in food to get free meals
A Delray Beach, FL, woman has been accused of placing glass shards in her food to get a free meal from restaurants.
Kaitlyn Murphy, a 31-year-old resident was arrested earlier this week on felony defraud charges after she admitted to using glass to get out of paying for her food, a trick the woman claims to have learned from someone she knew in rehab.
Murphy confessed that she would carry glass in her purse when she went out to eat and would sprinkle it over her food. She even intentionally cut her mouth by chewing the glass to make her story more realistic.
The police reported that Murphy had visited eleven restaurants in Stuart, FL, from September 15 to September 26 – claiming to find glass in her food “after eating most of her meals,” Local 10 News reports.
After Murphy reported the hazard, the restaurants would either eat the cost of the meal, or offer gift cards and free food.
The police were eventually tipped off about Murphy’s crime spree after restaurants started describing the same woman on social media, coming into their establishments and making the same claims.
“The mistake that she made was this is a tight knit community. A lot of the restaurant owners and employees know each other,” said Sgt. Michael German to WPTV.
The pressure of social media forced Murphy to turn herself in, where police found more glass shards in her purse.
In total, the police say Murphy cost restaurants hundreds of dollars in comped meals, gift cards, lost tips and lost food, as well as damaged the reputation of some servers and restaurants.
Murphy originally claimed that she did it because she couldn’t afford the food, but later a manager said Murphy confessed she did it for the adrenaline rush – a high she was searching for after she had quit drugs and alcohol.
Just before her arrest, Murphy was hired to work as a server in the area.
via: http://nypost.com/2017/10/04/woman-busted-sprinkling-glass-shards-in-food-to-get-free-meals/
Man admits to tricking women into sex for ‘porn rehearsals’
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Kansas City-area man has pleaded guilty to duping dozens of women into having sex with him on camera by telling them they were rehearsing for roles in pornographic movies.
The U.S. attorney’s office says 34-year-old Mario Antoine, of Raymore, pleaded guilty to one wire fraud count and will be sentenced to 10 years in prison under the terms of the deal he agreed to Friday. He also will be required to pay restitution to his victims. Formal sentencing is set for Sept. 13.
Prosecutors said Antoine created online aliases as a talent manager, photographer and videographer and claimed to work for fictitious companies in the pornography industry. Investigators say he promised to pay the women thousands of dollars.
Prosecutors say when the women complained about not being paid, Antoine forwarded images of the sexual activity to their employers or significant others.
via: http://nypost.com/2017/05/13/man-admits-to-tricking-women-into-sex-for-porn-rehearsals/