Workers' Compensation Fraud Investigations: Old School Meets New Tools

Margaret Everett, of counsel in the Vorys Cleveland office and member of the litigation group, authored an article for Crain’s Cleveland Business titled “Workers' Compensation Fraud Investigations: Old School Meets New Tools.”  In the article, Everett states that the widespread and pervasive use of social media and the internet has made it simpler to catch and easier to prosecute individuals involved in workers’ compensation fraud. 

The article states:

“Now, the use of technology is endless. Most of us have an Internet-connected phone with us 24 hours a day. Not only do we have this equipment at our disposal, many individuals regularly post and comment on personal and public information. Some individuals who post personal information on the Internet appear to have a false sense of the distinction between public and private information.

Tweets and Facebook postings, if not properly secured, provide little to no privacy of photographs or personal information. Webtaps of the Internet by professional and licensed private investigators can be very cost efficient and effective tools to defend or limit workers’ compensation claims.

These investigation techniques are still most effective when they are prompted by a solid hunch. Many times in the context of the defense of a workers’ compensation claim, an employer or their representative may notice ‘red flags’ in the behavior of an injured worker or individuals associated with an existing claim.”

To read the entire article, visit the Crain’s Cleveland Business website.