Cape Fear Investigative Services » Crime

Insurance Investigations

admin — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:05:34 +0000

Insurance Fraud

Here at Cape Fear Investigative Services, Inc, we can investigate deep into potential false workers compensation claims by conducting background checks, uncovering any suspicious activity involving the claimant and/or family members and review any previous medical records. Each case is individual and may have many different levels of investigative techniques involved. These techniques by experienced investigators may consist of surveillance, conducting neighborhood canvases, medical searches, accident reconstruction, interviewing the claimant and witnesses and comparing statements or compiling and reviewing financial and asset records.

While there are many legitimate claims from injuries that do require long term care, thousands of insurance claims filed each year are questionable and potentially fraudulent. Many of these claims are just paid out by insurance or privately self insured companies due to time constraints or pressure from outside adjusters or attorneys to settle the claim quickly. Hiring Cape Fear Investigative Services, Inc. to assist the insurance adjusters, SIU or HR departments can help to produce evidence that will be admissible in court and persuade the parties involved that the claimed injuries are not as they were reported. Well documented reports and video over a period of time cannot be disputed. Life and disability fraud, property damage fraud and theft, embezzlement, false statements and other insurance related crimes are occurring every day. If you suspect any fraudulent activity within your company or with a claimant we are available to assist you. Call 910-762-4374 to speak to an investigator.

Find Sex Offenders

admin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:43:18 +0000

You can help keep your family safe by learning where sex offenders live in your community.

Search the Sex Offender Registry

Use the North Carolina Sex Offender Registry to find out where sex predators live in your area. When you search, you can view a map that pinpoints where sex offenders live within five miles of any site you choose, such as your home, your child’s school or child care center, or a local park.

Email Alerts When Offenders Move Near You

You can sign up to get e-mail alerts when a sex offender registers at an address near your home or your child’s school, or to track a specific offender.

Track an Offender

If you’ve been the victim of a sex crime and your offender is registered, you can ask to be notified when the offender moves. You can also view an offender’s NC prison record and sentence. Get Alerts by Telephone

You can also sign up to get an alert by telephone when a convicted sex offender moves into your zip code, or to get telephone alerts about a specific offender by calling NC SAVAN at 1-877-627-2826.

Fighting Against Identity Theft

admin — Thu, 14 May 2009 13:26:40 +0000

COMMON WAYS ID THEFT HAPPENS:

Skilled identity thieves use a variety of methods to steal your personal information, including:

Dumpster Diving. They rummage through trash looking for bills or other paper with your personal information on it.
Skimming. They steal credit/debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card.
Phishing. They pretend to be financial institutions or companies and send spam or pop-up messages to get you to reveal your personal information.
Changing Your Address. They divert your billing statements to another location by completing a “change of address” form.
“Old-Fashioned” Stealing. They steal wallets and purses; mail, including bank and credit card statements; pre-approved credit offers; and new checks or tax information. They steal personnel records from their employers, or bribe employees who have access.

DETER

Identity theft is a serious crime. It occurs when your personal information is stolen and used without your knowledge to commit fraud or other crimes. Identity theft can cost you time and money. It can destroy your credit and ruin your good name.

Deter identity thieves by safeguarding your information.

Shred financial documents and paperwork with personal information before you discard them.
Protect your Social Security number. Don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write your Social Security number on a check. Give it out only if absolutely necessary or ask to use another identifier.
Don’t give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you know who you are dealing with.
Never click on links sent in unsolicited emails; instead, type in a web address you know. Use firewalls, anti-spyware, and anti-virus software to protect your home computer; keep them up-to-date. Visit OnGuardOnline.gov for more information.
Don’t use an obvious password like your birth date, your mother’s maiden name, or the last four digits of your Social Security number.
Keep your personal information in a secure place at home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having work done in your house.

DETECT

Detect suspicious activity by routinely monitoring your financial accounts and billing statements.

Be alert to signs that require immediate attention:

Bills that do not arrive as expected
Unexpected credit cards or account statements
Denials of credit for no apparent reason
Calls or letters about purchases you did not make

Inspect:

Your credit report. Credit reports contain information about you, including what accounts you have and your bill paying history.
- The law requires the major nationwide consumer reporting companies-Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion-to give you a free copy of your credit report each year if you ask for it.
- Visit http://www.AnnualCreditReport.com/ or call 1-877-322-8228, a service created by these three companies, to order your free credit reports each year. You also can write: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
Your financial statements. Review financial accounts and billing statements regularly, looking for charges you did not make.

DEFEND

Defend against ID theft as soon as you suspect it.

Place a “Fraud Alert” on your credit reports, and review the reports carefully. The alert tells creditors to follow certain procedures before they open new accounts in your name or make changes to your existing accounts. The three nationwide consumer reporting companies have toll-free numbers for placing an initial 90-day fraud alert; a call to one company is sufficient:
- Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
- Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
- TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289

Placing a fraud alert entitles you to free copies of your credit reports. Look for inquiries from companies you haven’t
contacted, accounts you didn’t open, and debts on your accounts that you can’t explain.

Close accounts. Close any accounts that have been tampered with or established fraudulently.
- Call the security or fraud departments of each company where an account was opened or changed without your okay. Follow up in writing, with copies of supporting documents.
- Use the ID Theft Affidavit at ftc.gov/idtheft to support your written statement.
- Ask for verification that the disputed account has been closed and the fraudulent debts discharged.
- Keep copies of documents and records of your conversations about the theft.
File a police report. File a report with law enforcement officials to help you with creditors who may want proof of the crime.
Report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission. Your report helps law enforcement officials across the country in their investigations.
- Online: ftc.gov/idtheft
- By phone: 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338) or TTY, 1-866-653-4261
- By mail: Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20580

To learn more about ID theft and how to deter, detect, and defend against it, visit ftc.gov/idtheft. Or request copies of ID theft resources by writing to:

Consumer Response Center
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, H-130
Washington, DC 20580