DIF Forms Task Force with the Broward

DIF Forms Task Force with the Broward
Sheriff's Office to focus on MSB 's
By Geoff Branch
　
You may have noticed a theme in this issue regarding the Department of Financial Services' focus on combating the rampant workers' com­ pensation premium fraud being facilitated by some Money Service Businesses across the state. This crime has been identified as the largest threat to the workers' compensation market in Florida, as it results in claims for which premium never was, and never will be, collected.
To that end, in early August the Division entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Broward Sheriff's Office to assign to the Division a full-time detective to be paired with a DIF detective, un­ der the supervision of a DIF Supervisor, to focus on specific Money Service Businesses in Broward County that have been identified as participating in these types of schemes. Investigations are already under way and will soon generate significant enforcement activities.
Utilizing the technical, legal, and investigative resources of a large law enforcement agency like the Broward Sheriff's Office to focus on Division initiatives allows for better, more thorough, and ultimately more successful investigations.
The relationship formed between the agencies will be a huge benefit as we move forward in the battle against Money Service Business fa­ cilitated Workers' Compensation Premium Fraud.
The Division of Insurance Fraud extends a big "Thank You" to Bro­
ward County Sheriff Al Lamberti for his support of this project.
Editors Note
The Workers' Comp Insider Newsletter is now available quarterly
online at www.MyFloridaCFO.com/fraud. You can find each new is­ sue posted at our website just before the end of each quarter (March, June, September, December). Previous issues are also avail­ able. If you prefer to receive this publication via e-mail or have com­ ments you wish to share, contact Geoff Branch at:
Geoffrey.Branch®MyFloridaCFO.com.
"The relationship formed be­
tween the agencies will be a huge benefit as we move for­ ward in the battle against Money Service Business facili­ tated Workers' Compensation Premium Fraud."
Summer 2011 Page 5