Dauntless Investigations’ Post

𝐃𝐨 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐀 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐫? Hiring private investigators (PIs) for workers' compensation (workers' comp) investigations is a strategic and prudent decision that significantly reduces fraudulent claims and saves money for businesses and insurers. Not convinced? Let us show you why you may need a PI. 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐔𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐝 Private investigators have specialized skills in surveillance, data analysis, and interviewing techniques which enable them to uncover fraudulent activities that might otherwise go undetected. PIs conduct thorough investigations, including: -Surveillance to monitor claimants' activities and verify the legitimacy of their injuries. -Background checks to identify any history of fraudulent claims. -Social media investigations -Interviews with witnesses and colleagues to gather comprehensive information. 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 The financial benefits of hiring PIs are significant. At a time when insurers and employers are already paying additional costs to handle a new claim, hiring a professional investigator may seem like an unnecessary extra fee. However, hiring an investigator at the start of a claim may not only help to lower or mitigate entirely any legal settlements, but can also aid in lowering continuing payments moving forward. 𝐄𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 PIs not only identify fraudulent claims but also ensure that legitimate claims are handled fairly and promptly. This balanced approach maintains the integrity of the workers' compensation system, ensuring that injured workers receive the compensation they deserve while preventing abuse. 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 The presence of private investigators can deter fraudulent activities. Knowing that skilled professionals might scrutinize their actions, potential fraudsters may think twice before attempting to deceive the system. This proactive approach helps maintain a lower incidence of fraud overall. 𝐄𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 PIs bring efficiency to the investigation process. They use advanced technology and methodologies to gather evidence quickly and accurately. This efficiency is crucial in workers' comp cases, where timely decisions impact the employer's finances, the claimant's recovery process, and may ensure time sensitive evidence is collected before it's too late. Ultimately, hiring private investigators for workers' comp investigations is a cost-effective and efficient strategy to combat fraud and stop the bleeding. The specialized skills and expertise of PIs, combined with their ability to deter fraudulent activities mitigate the damage from fraud that may already be in progress, make them invaluable in the fight against workers' comp fraud. Investing in professional investigations protects businesses' financial interests and promotes a fair compensation system for all workers. #LetThePIWork

𝐃𝐨 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐀 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐫? Hiring private investigators (PIs) for workers' compensation (workers' comp) investigations is a strategic and prudent decision that significantly reduces fraudulent claims and saves money for businesses and insurers. Not convinced? Let us show you why you may need a PI. 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐔𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐝 Private investigators have specialized skills in surveillance, data analysis, and interviewing techniques which enable them to uncover fraudulent activities that might otherwise go undetected. PIs conduct thorough investigations, including: -Surveillance to monitor claimants' activities and verify the legitimacy of their injuries. -Background checks to identify any history of fraudulent claims. -Social media investigations -Interviews with witnesses and colleagues to gather comprehensive information. 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 The financial benefits of hiring PIs are significant. At a time when insurers and employers are already paying additional costs to handle a new claim, hiring a professional investigator may seem like an unnecessary extra fee. However, hiring an investigator at the start of a claim may not only help to lower or mitigate entirely any legal settlements, but can also aid in lowering continuing payments moving forward. 𝐄𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 PIs not only identify fraudulent claims but also ensure that legitimate claims are handled fairly and promptly. This balanced approach maintains the integrity of the workers' compensation system, ensuring that injured workers receive the compensation they deserve while preventing abuse. 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 The presence of private investigators can deter fraudulent activities. Knowing that skilled professionals might scrutinize their actions, potential fraudsters may think twice before attempting to deceive the system. This proactive approach helps maintain a lower incidence of fraud overall. 𝐄𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 PIs bring efficiency to the investigation process. They use advanced technology and methodologies to gather evidence quickly and accurately. This efficiency is crucial in workers' comp cases, where timely decisions impact the employer's finances, the claimant's recovery process, and may ensure time sensitive evidence is collected before it's too late. Ultimately, hiring private investigators for workers' comp investigations is a cost-effective and efficient strategy to combat fraud and stop the bleeding. The specialized skills and expertise of PIs, combined with their ability to deter fraudulent activities mitigate the damage from fraud that may already be in progress, make them invaluable in the fight against workers' comp fraud. Investing in professional investigations protects businesses' financial interests and promotes a fair compensation system for all workers. #LetThePIWork

𝐃𝐨 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐀 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐫? Hiring private investigators (PIs) for workers' compensation (workers' comp) investigations is a strategic and prudent decision that significantly reduces fraudulent claims and saves money for businesses and insurers. Not convinced? Let us show you why you may need a PI. 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐔𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐝 Private investigators have specialized skills in surveillance, data analysis, and interviewing techniques which enable them to uncover fraudulent activities that might otherwise go undetected. PIs conduct thorough investigations, including: -Surveillance to monitor claimants' activities and verify the legitimacy of their injuries. -Background checks to identify any history of fraudulent claims. -Social media investigations -Interviews with witnesses and colleagues to gather comprehensive information. 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 The financial benefits of hiring PIs are significant. At a time when insurers and employers are already paying additional costs to handle a new claim, hiring a professional investigator may seem like an unnecessary extra fee. However, hiring an investigator at the start of a claim may not only help to lower or mitigate entirely any legal settlements, but can also aid in lowering continuing payments moving forward. 𝐄𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 PIs not only identify fraudulent claims but also ensure that legitimate claims are handled fairly and promptly. This balanced approach maintains the integrity of the workers' compensation system, ensuring that injured workers receive the compensation they deserve while preventing abuse. 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 The presence of private investigators can deter fraudulent activities. Knowing that skilled professionals might scrutinize their actions, potential fraudsters may think twice before attempting to deceive the system. This proactive approach helps maintain a lower incidence of fraud overall. 𝐄𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 PIs bring efficiency to the investigation process. They use advanced technology and methodologies to gather evidence quickly and accurately. This efficiency is crucial in workers' comp cases, where timely decisions impact the employer's finances, the claimant's recovery process, and may ensure time sensitive evidence is collected before it's too late. Ultimately, hiring private investigators for workers' comp investigations is a cost-effective and efficient strategy to combat fraud and stop the bleeding. The specialized skills and expertise of PIs, combined with their ability to deter fraudulent activities mitigate the damage from fraud that may already be in progress, make them invaluable in the fight against workers' comp fraud. Investing in professional investigations protects businesses' financial interests and promotes a fair compensation system for all workers. #LetThePIWork

Occupational fraud is a serious threat that can impact organizations of all sizes. From embezzlement to payroll fraud to expense reimbursement fraud, there are various types of schemes that dishonest employees may use to deceive and steal from their employers. 🟡Embezzlement Embezzlement is a type of occupational fraud where an employee misappropriates funds or assets entrusted to them by their employer. This can involve stealing cash, manipulating financial records, or diverting company resources for personal gain. Embezzlement schemes can be difficult to detect, as the perpetrator often has access to the company's financial accounts and may be skilled at covering their tracks. ◾One notorious example of embezzlement is the case of Bernie Madoff, who orchestrated a massive Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors of billions of dollars. Madoff used his position as a respected investment advisor to lure clients into investing in his fraudulent scheme, promising high returns that were too good to be true. 🟡Payroll Fraud Payroll fraud occurs when employees manipulate the company's payroll system to fraudulently increase their pay or benefits. Payroll fraud can have a significant financial impact on businesses, as it can result in overpayment of wages and benefits, leading to decreased profitability. ◾A real-world example of payroll fraud is the case of Tyco International, where senior executives were found guilty of manipulating the company's payroll system to award themselves millions of dollars in unauthorized bonuses and benefits. The executives used various deceptive tactics to conceal their fraudulent activities, resulting in a substantial financial loss for the company. 🟡Expense Reimbursement Fraud Expense reimbursement fraud involves employees submitting false or inflated expense reports to receive reimbursement for expenses that were never actually incurred. Expense reimbursement fraud can drain a company's resources and erode trust between employees and management. ◾One well-known example of expense reimbursement fraud is the case of Wells Fargo, where employees were found to have submitted fraudulent expense reports to inflate their reimbursement claims. The employees used various deceptive tactics to siphon money from the company's coffers. 🟨Occupational fraud can have a significant impact on organizations of all sizes. These fraudulent schemes can result in financial losses, damage to reputation, and a breakdown of trust within the workplace. By being vigilant and implementing robust internal controls, businesses can protect themselves against the threat of occupational fraud and safeguard their assets.

Unfortunately, employee fraud is a common issue that can cause significant financial losses for employers. Here are some different ways employees may defraud their employers: 1. *Embezzlement*: Misappropriating company funds or assets for personal gain. 2. *Time theft*: Falsifying time cards, working less than scheduled, or taking excessive breaks. 3. *Expense account fraud*: Misusing company credit cards or submitting false expense reports. 4. *Asset misappropriation*: Stealing company assets, such as inventory, equipment, or supplies. 5. *Payroll fraud*: Falsifying payroll records, tampering with time cards, or ghosting employees. 6. *Kickbacks*: Accepting bribes or kickbacks from vendors or contractors. 7. *Conflict of interest*: Using company resources for personal gain or moonlighting. 8. *Financial statement fraud*: Manipulating financial records or reports for personal gain. 9. *Theft of intellectual property*: Stealing company secrets, proprietary information, or trade secrets. 10. *Workers' compensation fraud*: Falsifying injuries or claims to receive workers' compensation benefits. 11. *Credit card fraud*: Using company credit cards for personal expenses or making unauthorized purchases. 12. *Ghost vendors*: Creating fake vendors or invoices to siphon company funds. 13. *Purchasing fraud*: Manipulating purchasing processes or contracts for personal gain. 14. *Travel fraud*: Misusing company funds for personal travel or expenses. 15. *Cash handling fraud*: Misappropriating cash, skimming, or falsifying cash handling records. It's essential for employers to implement robust internal controls, regular audits, and employee screening to prevent and detect employee fraud.

Allegations: Former Human Resources Manager in San Francisco Stole More than $600,000.00 from Workers’ Compensation Fund - https://lnkd.in/gqpw6AGv On March 21, 2024, CBS News reported that a former human resources (HR) manager in San Francisco misappropriated more than $600,000.00 in workers' compensation funds. Stanley Ellicott has been arrested and is now facing dozens of serious criminal charges. Within this article, our Fresno workers’ compensation defense attorney provides a more comprehensive discussion of the allegations raised against the Bay Area HR manager. The Allegations: Human Resources Manager Misappropriated Workers’ Compensation Funds Stanley Ellicott—a former high-ranking manager in the San Francisco Department of Human Resources—has been arrested for allegedly defrauding the city out of approximately $627,000.00.  The funds were allegedly misappropriated from the city’s workers’ compensation fund. The misconduct in question purportedly occurred between the Spring 2019 and early 2024. Mr. Ellicott had served as the assistant director of finance and technology for the San Francisco Workers' Compensation Division. He is accused of orchestrating a complex workers’ compensation fraud scheme through which funds were improperly paid for fake auditing services. A personal friend of Mr. Ellicott allegedly operated the fake auditing company, and Mr. Ellicott received a significant share of the money that was illicitly taken.  Serious Criminal Charges Have Been Filed Against Defendant The defendant in this case is facing very serious criminal charges. In total, Mr. Ellicott is facing 62 criminal fraud counts, including charges of grand theft, misappropriation of public funds, money laundering, and workers’ compensation fraud. The case is being handled by the District Attorney of San Francisco. As with any person accused of workers’ compensation fraud, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Workers’ Compensation Fraud Undermines the System Employers and insurance companies are both dealing with rising workers’ compensation costs. Unfortunately, workers’ compensation fraud—which remains a major issue and a significant challenge in our state—is contributing to these rising costs. Fraud undermines the integrity of the workers’ compensation system. It can take a wide range of different forms, including: Insiders misappropriating workers’ compensation funds; Employers intentionally underreporting payroll; Employers misclassifying workers as independent contractors; Medical providers billing for unnecessary services; Workers misrepresenting the severity of injuries; and Workers claiming injuries that did not really occur. Workers’ compensation fraud not only strains the financial resources of the system, it

Allegations: Former Human Resources Manager in San Francisco Stole More than $600,000.00 from Workers’ Compensation Fund - https://lnkd.in/gp2UiKyR On March 21, 2024, CBS News reported that a former human resources (HR) manager in San Francisco misappropriated more than $600,000.00 in workers' compensation funds. Stanley Ellicott has been arrested and is now facing dozens of serious criminal charges. Within this article, our Fresno workers’ compensation defense attorney provides a more comprehensive discussion of the allegations raised against the Bay Area HR manager. The Allegations: Human Resources Manager Misappropriated Workers’ Compensation Funds Stanley Ellicott—a former high-ranking manager in the San Francisco Department of Human Resources—has been arrested for allegedly defrauding the city out of approximately $627,000.00.  The funds were allegedly misappropriated from the city’s workers’ compensation fund. The misconduct in question purportedly occurred between the Spring 2019 and early 2024. Mr. Ellicott had served as the assistant director of finance and technology for the San Francisco Workers' Compensation Division. He is accused of orchestrating a complex workers’ compensation fraud scheme through which funds were improperly paid for fake auditing services. A personal friend of Mr. Ellicott allegedly operated the fake auditing company, and Mr. Ellicott received a significant share of the money that was illicitly taken.  Serious Criminal Charges Have Been Filed Against Defendant The defendant in this case is facing very serious criminal charges. In total, Mr. Ellicott is facing 62 criminal fraud counts, including charges of grand theft, misappropriation of public funds, money laundering, and workers’ compensation fraud. The case is being handled by the District Attorney of San Francisco. As with any person accused of workers’ compensation fraud, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Workers’ Compensation Fraud Undermines the System Employers and insurance companies are both dealing with rising workers’ compensation costs. Unfortunately, workers’ compensation fraud—which remains a major issue and a significant challenge in our state—is contributing to these rising costs. Fraud undermines the integrity of the workers’ compensation system. It can take a wide range of different forms, including: Insiders misappropriating workers’ compensation funds; Employers intentionally underreporting payroll; Employers misclassifying workers as independent contractors; Medical providers billing for unnecessary services; Workers misrepresenting the severity of injuries; and Workers claiming injuries that did not really occur. Workers’ compensation fraud not only strains the financial resources of the system, it

Right before this hack happened, Unum management hired some Indians to reduce IT costs. The first things the Indian manager cut was data governance, business analytics, data modeling, and cybersecurity. All of the employees cut were US Citizens. The same exact group had been hired at other companies such as Waste Management, and right after they were hired, the companies were hacked. Coincidence? How many times will American C-Level executives fall for that same scam? Congress needs to repeal the guest worker laws to protect not only national security, but to protect stupid executives from their own greed and desire to blindly cut wages. The outsourcing strategy has NEVER worked and nobody is brave enough to admit it. https://lnkd.in/ggcJK2k2

Staffing fraud is reaching a critical point, with recent news highlighting alarming practices among some staffing agencies. I’m telling all my clients and colleagues - understanding the risks and identifying reputable partners has never been more crucial. Here’s a look at some of the fraudulent activities and their impact: The UNINSURED Some staffing agencies operate without proper insurance, putting both employees and clients at risk. These agencies can cut costs and offer lower rates, but they leave businesses vulnerable to liabilities. It’s essential for companies to verify the insurance status of their staffing partners to ensure compliance and protection. The PIGGYBACKERS Another concerning practice involves agencies piggybacking on the credentials of legitimate companies. This deceptive tactic misleads clients and compromises the quality of the workforce provided. Ensuring that your staffing agency holds valid and independent credentials is key to avoiding this type of fraud. The CORRUPT Cases of outright corruption and mismanagement have surfaced, with some agencies exploiting workers and engaging in unethical practices. These actions not only harm the workers but also tarnish the reputation of businesses that unknowingly partner with such agencies. Due diligence in selecting staffing partners is crucial to maintaining ethical and legal standards. So…What Can Businesses Do? 1. Verify Credentials 2. Conduct Due Diligence 3. Partner with Reputable Agencies. Staffing fraud poses a significant threat to businesses and workers. Protect your company and employees by staying informed and vigilant!

HOW OBIORA BATTLED EMPLOYEE FRAUD IN HIS BUSINESS USING DATA-ENTRY SKILLS Obiora runs an air freight cargo business from China to Nigeria. His office in China receives goods packed in cartons, then air freights them to Nigeria. Customers make payment when their goods arrive Nigeria. When they come to collect their goods from the Nigerian office in Lagos, his employees check the weight on the manifest, calculate the amount based on the weight, and the customer pays. His employees found a way to defraud him and make money for themselves. If you ship say 60kg of goods, which you should pay maybe 273k Naira to the company, they tell you they can help you reduce your cost. They ask you to pay maybe 50k to them personally and then maybe 80k to the company, making a total of 130k. Then they write a receipt that shows your goods are only maybe 28kg, instead of 60kg. Imagine the huge loss the company was suffering, especially considering the fact that the company paid for the full 60kg to the airline that carried the cargo. Obiora was tired of these huge losses, so he reached out. It was such a simple thing to fix. First, an invoicing software was deployed. Then, everytime goods arrive, an outsourced data entry expert would receive the Manifest as a spreadsheet, then create all the invoices in the system for each of the customers on the manifest list. Obiora's staff were no longer allowed to issue manual invoices. Once a customer comes to their office for collection, they simply search for your invoice on the system and issue a receipt. That's all. They have no access rights to edit any invoice, so they cannot cheat the company anymore, by reducing the weight. Twice a week, another data entry expert comes in to physically check that all the pending invoices in the system have their goods still physically uncollected in the office. Ah! That was the end of the fraud. All the criminal employees started resigning one by one. They could no longer make any fraudulent monies because they could no longer do their manual manipulative invoices. Obiora's business took a new turn. He was saving over 3million in monthly losses just by engaging two data entry experts who were earning 150k Naira each. Did you notice the skills the Data-Entry experts had? 1. They knew how to think about process problems 2. They knew the right software to deploy 3. They knew the manual process to remove 4. They knew how to quickly train Obiora's staff to use the new software 5. They knew how to speedily make invoices 6. They knew the right physical process to use as a control after the software deployment All these are learnt in Data-Entry Academy. We don't just teach you a bunch of software. No. We teach you to use software to solve problems and grow businesses. We teach you to become a messiah to businesses, locally and globally. That's why you should enroll now in Data-Entry Academy. https://lnkd.in/dknqyzXQ