Whether you are witnessing Insurance fraud or a victim of it there are many state resources that can help!Each year fraud causes consumers billion in higher fees, taxes and insurance rates. You can do your part to find out more or report fraud.Here are a few resources for residents of Florida directly from Jeff Atwater, Chief Financial Officer, State of Florida:Our Division of Insurance Fraud takes fraud head on by investigating a host of insurance-related crimes. From staged car accidents to fake water leaks for insurance payments to employers who fail to adequately protect their employees with workers' compensation coverage, our investigators are working in every corner of our state to root out and address these crimes that are driving up our insurance rates. We're making great strides, averaging four arrests per day, taking four more fraudsters out of your pockets. If you see something, say something. To report suspected insurance fraud, please call 1-800-378-0445.Our Division of State Fire Marshal works to solve cases of suspicious fires in our state. You may not know that one of the primary reasons people intentionally start fires in our nation is in hopes of collecting the insurance money tied to the property they've destroyed. It happens more often than you'd think--since 2011, we've made nearly 1,500 arson arrests. If you have information regarding a fire you believe to be suspicious, tell our investigators by calling 1-877-662-7766.Our Division of Public Assistance Fraud fights against those who try to cheat our public benefits system, which is designed to temporarily help Floridians through their time of need. Just last fiscal year, we opened 232 slots for hard-working families to enroll their children in daycare services so they can go to work to provide for themselves. When people steal these benefits, it takes away from another family in need. In total, we've stopped more than $167 million worth of public assistance fraud in the last four-and-a-half years. If you think someone is cheating the public assistance system, please report it by calling 1-866-762-2237.Lastly, and the one area I encourage you to become familiar with, is our Division of Consumer Services, which works 365 days a year to assist and inform you and your loved ones about fraud and scams of all types.We at Golden Global Insurance hope that this is news you can use and look forward to serving you.
