Workers Compensation Fraud
In 1939, Edwin Sutherland coined the term “White Collar Crime.” The term originally characterized white-collar criminals as those with respectability and high social status who carried out crime during “his” occupation. Today, the definition of white-collar crime has been expanded to include much more than “upper class criminals.” White Collar Crime can be defined as “an offense carried out by non-coercive, nonviolent means, and using or utilizing an acquired skill or technology to perpetuate a fraudulent scheme” (Rosoff 15).
One particular form of White Collar Crime is worker’s compensation fraud. One example of workers’ compensation fraud was reported on by ABC News and involved Bruce Gilbert, a bus driver who “talked like a five year old, a problem his wife blamed on an ‘on-the-job’ accident” (Hunter). Gilbert’s wife claimed that her husband suffered from a “regressive mental ailment that effectively gave him the mental capacity of a child of about five” (Hunter). Over the course of 10 years, the Gilberts received approximately $774,000 in workers’ compensation. A private investigator, however, found that not only was Bruce Gilbert still able to drive, but he was also able to hunt and golf as well. In April of 2000, he was arrested for workers’ compensation fraud and grand theft. His wife was also arrested. The two each received 15 years of probation and had to pay back all of the money they received from the workers’ compensation. Since our research, the Gilberts have only paid back $4000. Sadly, this is only one case out of many that exist.
Worker’s compensation fraud or claimant fraud has been a growing problem since the late 1980s. “Claimant fraud happens when employees knowingly lie to collect benefits. They may claim an injury was work-related when it wasn’t, exaggerate an injury, or secretly continue working while collecting benefits” (Wylie). Claimant fraud costs the nation approximately $31 billion dollars a year. It is estimated
One particular form of White Collar Crime is worker’s compensation fraud. One example of workers’ compensation fraud was reported on by ABC News and involved Bruce Gilbert, a bus driver who “talked like a five year old, a problem his wife blamed on an ‘on-the-job’ accident” (Hunter). Gilbert’s wife claimed that her husband suffered from a “regressive mental ailment that effectively gave him the mental capacity of a child of about five” (Hunter). Over the course of 10 years, the Gilberts received approximately $774,000 in workers’ compensation. A private investigator, however, found that not only was Bruce Gilbert still able to drive, but he was also able to hunt and golf as well. In April of 2000, he was arrested for workers’ compensation fraud and grand theft. His wife was also arrested. The two each received 15 years of probation and had to pay back all of the money they received from the workers’ compensation. Since our research, the Gilberts have only paid back $4000. Sadly, this is only one case out of many that exist.
Worker’s compensation fraud or claimant fraud has been a growing problem since the late 1980s. “Claimant fraud happens when employees knowingly lie to collect benefits. They may claim an injury was work-related when it wasn’t, exaggerate an injury, or secretly continue working while collecting benefits” (Wylie). Claimant fraud costs the nation approximately $31 billion dollars a year. It is estimated
Cited: Darcy, John. Interview. "The Crime You Pay For”. Coalition Against Insurance Fraud. Retrieved 9 Apr. 2007. . Hunter, Greg. “Workers Comp Scams That Push the Limits.” Retrieved. 3 March 2007. . Rosoff, Stephen M. Profit Without Honor: White Collar Crime and the Looting of America. 4th ed. 2007. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. “Workers’ Comp.” Retrieved. 5 April 2007. . “Workers’ Comp. Fraud.” Retrieved. 2 April 2007. . “Workers Compensation.” Wex. 2007. Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School. Retrieved. 3 April 2007. Wylie, David. “Fraud No Small Matter for Businesses.” Retrieved. 14 March 2007. .