Insurance Fraud Arrests Rising in Delco

The Delaware County District Attorney says his office says has made 22 arrests for insurance fraud cases in the county over the past year, including three in 2013 alone.

According to District Attorney Jack Whelan "Insurance fraud costs honest consumers and businesses thousands per year," said District Attorney Jack Whelan.  "The huge financial burden that insurance fraud imposes on the citizens of Delaware County through higher insurance premiums and the increased costs of goods and services is unacceptable."

Whelan's office is applying for a new grant from the Pennsylvania Insurance Fraud Prevention Authority (IFPA).

Accoding to Whelan's office, Last year, Delaware County received $252,000 which covered the costs for a detective, Assistant District Attorney and an analyst for the unit. Over the past 12 years, the division has secured over $2.8 million in court-ordered restitution for victims of insurance fraud, with a total of $364,839 for the year 2012.

In total, felony crimes in Delaware County in the past year have added to more than $273,000 in potential losses to victims of insurance fraud with crimes range from false burglary reports, contractor scams, to workers compensation fraud.