Ethos Risk Services

At Ethos, our clients are our top priority. We deliver best-in-class results, shortened turn-around-times, and the highest level of security, to enable you to take your claims to the next step. Reach out to see how we can partner with you and your business!

In our last post, we described a new scam running rampant: “synthetic identity theft,” which mixes genuine Social Security numbers and phony names to steal large amounts of cash. One of the more concerning aspects is if your Social Security number has been used in this way, you may not find out until years later after your credit has tanked.

Another way scammers cash in on this “new identity” is filing for unemployment to fish for funds.

The IRS warns taxpayers to contact the Department of Labor if you see any of the below red flags indicating someone is using your identity to illegally file for unemployment benefits:
● Mail is received concerning unemployment claims you did
not apply for
● Notice from your employer concerning bogus unemployment
claims in your name
● Tax forms from states in which you did not file for benefits

https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/identity-theft-and-unemployment-benefits

Are you familiar with the latest scam dubbed “synthetic identity theft?” Scammers are combining real Social Security numbers with bogus names and creating new identities which they then use to take out loans, apply for financial assisitance, and obtain credit cards, all of which can be a lucrative pay-day for scheming fraudsters.

According to Pew Trusts, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas cautions consumers to protect their personal information carefully, “Your wallet and your purse could be a crime scene any day of the week,” he said, “Every consumer needs to hone their skills to play defense.”

Ethos is an industry leader in the skillsets needed to root out and report fraud facing your company. Reach out to see how we can partner with you today!

https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2022/04/07/thieves-hit-on-a-new-scam-synthetic-identity-fraud

Thieves Hit on a New Scam: Synthetic Identity Fraud “Your wallet and your purse could be a crime scene any day of the week.”

An insurance scam involving a stolen Hummer has been unburied after 6 years in the ground.

In 2016, an Alabama man thought he had gotten away with a profitable stolen vehicle claim; one of 16 insurance claims he had filed over the years. Insurance forked over $22,000 for the stolen vehicle but the county sheriff’s department kept looking for the hidden Hummer. Six years later, and after months of searching, the “stolen” Hummer was unearthed; buried off a dirt road in Washington County.

When it comes to fraudulent auto claims, innocent drivers are the ultimate victims when insurance companies raise premiums to cover their losses. Ethos continues to offer solutions to companies fighting fraud in all fields. Contact us to find out how we can assist your business!

https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2022/04/08/661960.htm

https://www.claimspages.com/news/2022/04/08/claim-payout-was-$22k-but-insurance-fraud-investigation-digs-up-hummer/

Claim Payout Was $22K, But Insurance Fraud Investigation Digs Up Hummer Behind a barn off a dirt road in Washington County near the Tibbie community, a track hoe began digging and with every scoop of earth it pulled away what had been buried for six years was slowly revealed a white, 2006 Hummer H2.

Congratulations to this year's Ethos Employee Excellence Award winners: Zachary Barrigar, Matt R., Erin Heard Broussard, Q Thornhill, Ashley Lewis, Ryan Foor, Christopher Miller, Brenda Miller, Ethan Wickline, Timothy Chaffee, Penelope Curtis, Gina Langella, Todd Mercer & Nicole Boudreaux. Thank you for all your contributions and hard work!

What if a 911 operator was bribed into releasing your personal information so crooks could target you for a lucrative insurance payout?

That’s exactly what at least 5 NYPD 911 operators did under Jelani Wray’s influence, the leader of a crime ring which bribed 911 operators, hospital workers, and police officers for crash victim’s personal information. This sensitive information was then used to steer victims to unlawful medical clinics. The cash flow came from the submission of millions of dollars in false medical reimbursement claims. As a result of this unlawful process, the corrupt ringleader was sentenced to 7 years in prison.

At Ethos we are happy to see justice being served and this insidious scam being uncovered.
https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/east/2022/04/11/662478.htm

No-Fault Auto Insurance Lead Fraudster Sentenced to 7 Years for Bribery A man prosecutors said was a leader of a conspiracy that involved bribing 911 operators, hospital workers, and police officers to obtain the confidential

All of us at Ethos Risk Services wish all the Mom's a happy and healthy Mother's Day Weekend! 💖😃💖

Last weekend, our company had an amazing time competing in volleyball, dodgeball, corn toss, tug of war and other fun games at Sports Fest this year in Treasure Island, Florida. Ethos had a great time completing with other great companies in the area that we competed alongside, especially the tug of war. We are looking forward to a fun time at next year’s games!

Register Now for our very popular May Arson Webinar! Understand what drives a person to commit insurance fraud using arson and earn CE credit for your insurance adjusters license. Click this link to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_e70cJl7CR9WW6KtWP6cEKQ or visit our website at www.ethosrisk.com/continuting-education/

Did you know airbags are being used in a life-threatening scam where you may not know you are a victim until it’s too late?

Airbag fraud involves a crooked mechanic collecting the full price for a new airbag from you or your insurance, but installing a used or damaged airbag instead and pocketing the difference. In serious cases, some airbags will not be replaced at all. Here are some tips if your car is used or has been repaired:

1. Look at the steering wheel and press down on the logo. If there is any give, or it feels hollow, there may not be an airbag within.

2. Look for small tears around the airbag covers or seams running through the middle.

3. When you start your vehicle, the airbag light should flash on and then off. Continuous flashes mean an airbag malfunction. If no light comes on, the airbag may be missing entirely.

4. When buying a used car, always get it inspected by a trusted source. A mechanical expert can inspect the airbag and ensure it is functioning.

Ethos is committed to exposing and fighting fraud- reach out to see how we can provide advanced solutions to the insurance scams threatening your company.

Ethos is proud to partner with clients in the fight against fraud. We provide personalized experience you need and the experience you trust to handle your claims. See what our clients have to say about our full suite of serivces!

Do you know the most common types of insurance fraud? Insurance Business lists the 4 most common types, all of which have a devastating effect on U.S. consumers:
1. Auto Insurance Fraud
2. Healthcare Fraud
3. Workers’ Compensation Fraud
4. Disaster-related Property Fraud

With companies facing such a wide spectrum of fraud, Ethos is committed to providing a one-stop risk mitigation solution to keep fraud in check for your company and business. Reach out to see how we can partner with you today!

https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/breaking-news/revealed--the-most-common-types-of-insurance-fraud-399325.aspx

Happy Earth Day 2022! 🌎 Ethos Risk Services encourages everyone to celebrate Earth Day and strive to do your part by cutting your carbon footprint today and every day.

Why is our team at Ethos obsessed with exposing and fighting fraud? Because we understand how unchecked fraud ultimately hurts innocent victims. In a recent report compiled by The Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, it is estimated that fraud costs US consumers at least $80 billion every year. That translates to the average U.S. family paying an extra $400 to $700 per year in premiums!

With that in mind, we help our clients fight against fraud using our full suite of investigative services. Reach out to see how we can partner with you and deliver the results you need on your insurance claims.
https://insurancefraud.org/wp-content/uploads/Globalization-of-Insurance-Fraud-report-Final-2.pdf

In the fight against fraud, knowledge is power. With the release of the popular Netflix documentary “The Tinder Swindler”, featuring a scam artist using Tinder to con women out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, Tinder has announced it will add criminal background check features as an added security measure for hopeful matches.

Although there are exceptions to the crimes these background searches can discover, it is one more positive step in fighting the scams targeting innocent victims through dating apps.

At Ethos we understand the power knowledge can provide in combatting fraud in your personal and business life. Ask us about our continuing education webinars where we provide the expert know-how behind fresh topics in the fraud mitigation field.

https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/tinder-launches-background-checks-for-people-to-screen-matches/

Tinder Launches Background Checks for People to Screen Matches The background check platform, run by nonprofit Garbo, is also available to the public.

A big thank you to Magazine for including Ethos Risk Services in their list of best St. Petersburg based Cyber Security companies! We are honored to be considered an industry leader in innovation, and we are proud to provide our clients across the globe the highest caliber in investigations and risk management.

https://datamagazine.co.uk/15-most-innovative-cyber-security-startups-companies-st-petersburg/

Magazine

15 Most Innovative Cyber Security Startups & Companies (St. Petersburg) This article showcases our top picks for the best St. Petersburg based Cyber Security companies. These startups and companies are taking a variety of approaches to innovating the Cyber Security industry, but are all exceptional companies well worth a follow. We tried to pick companies across the

Interested in learning more about staged automobile accidents and the most common indicators to identify potential fraud used by automotive fraud rings? Register Now for Our April Webinar! Click this link to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IUWDSkK7Q12TCD8G8Csd4g

Did you know Ethos offers a personalized EDR service designed to provide critical facts on your collision claims? Below are some frequently asked questions around our innovative service.

What is an EDR and how can Ethos help?
An Event Data Recorder (EDR) is a function or device installed in a vehicle to capture vehicle and occupant information for a brief point of time before, during, and after a collision. Ethos assists in the process of retrieving this data and providing it to you in a complete report. We have two report options – a basic report which includes the EDR reading and any notes on the investigation, and the enhanced report which breaks down the data of the EDR reading and provides an accurate and unbiased account of the collision.

What information do EDRs record?
EDRs record a minimum of 15 elements in a collision event and sometimes more. These elements include:
-Whether an airbag deployed
-Speed the vehicle was traveling
-Whether the brake or accelerator was applied
-If the driver safety belt was buckled 1 second prior to the crash
-Number of crash events
-Whether there was evidence of passengers

How can Ethos’ EDR service assist my company?
The data retrieved from a vehicle can paint an unbiased picture of the facts of a collision. This information can reveal needed details and arm you with the knowledge needed to make claim decisions.

Contact us for more on our EDR service and how we can assist in your company’s needs!

Don’t play the fool this April Fool’s Day! With new tax reporting legislation in place and tax season officially here, many individuals may be susceptible to a fresh phishing scam.

The swindle involves a new requirement for digital payment services such as PayPal, Venmo, Square, and Zelle, to report payments totaling $600 or more to the IRS. This directly affects small business owners and freelancers who will need to provide current tax information such as Social Security Numbers and Tax IDs to these payment providers.

This new tax requirement provides a huge opportunity for phishers to request individuals’ tax information by pretending to be working on behalf of a payment vendor. We at Ethos urge you to be wary of “phishing” attempts and report any suspicious tax information requests directly to payment service providers.

Are you ready for tax season?

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2022/feb/27/beware-phising-fraud-new-irs-rules-online-payment-service-receipts

Beware: new IRS rules will lead a wave of phishing frauds | Gene Marks Services like PayPal and Square now need your tax information. Scammers are going to be on the prowl to get it too

In a staggering data report released by the Federal Trade Commission, financial losses due to fraud increased in 2021, totaling a whopping $5.9 billion. That’s over a 70% increase compared to 2020!

With the astronomical increase last year, one can only guess how much fraud loss 2022 will hold. Don’t let you and your company be a statistic for fraud this time next year. Ethos provides a one-stop risk-mitigation service with the highest level of expertise in the industry. Reach out to see how we can partner with you and your company in our people-centric, personalized approach to fighting fraud!

https://www.securitymagazine.com/articles/97179-59-billion-lost-due-to-fraud-in-2021

$5.9 billion lost due to fraud in 2021 Identity theft and imposter scams were some of the top fraud techniques employed by scammers to defraud users out of $5.9 billion in 2021, according to data from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

The release of Tokio Marine HCC International’s (TMHCCI), second annual Cyber Incidents Report in February reveals the global threat of cyber-attacks continues to grow and evolve.

The report listed ten of the most impactful cyber-attacks over the last year and included institutions such as Microsoft, Volkswagen, and Colonial Pipeline. These ten incidents alone resulted in over $600 Million in cash stolen, tens of millions of citizen records stolen, 40,000 businesses’ IT operations put at risk, one billion airline passenger details compromised, and at least one bank was effectively shut down for over a week.

One of the issues brought to light by the report is the interconnected nature of modern business which lends a risk to all. Many smaller, independent companies rely on larger corporations to provide products and services. Therefore, when large corporations are targeted by ransomware attacks, these companies can suffer as well.

As Xavier Marguinaud, Head of Cyber at TMHCCI, says: “It’s clear that organizations of all shapes and sizes need to understand that wherever they are and whatever they are engaged in, their business is at risk.”

This reality is what motivates Ethos to continue to provide resources and risk solutions to all companies, large and small, in the fight against fraud.

https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2022/02/10/653554.htm

10 Cyber Attacks in 2021 Cost $600M With 40,000 Businesses Put at Risk In just 10 cyber incidents last year, over $600 million in cash was stolen or taken as ransom, tens of millions of citizen records stolen, 40,000

We’re Hiring!!

Immediate needs include Digital Fraud Investigators & Finance Administrative Assistant!

Ethos is a fast-growing company in the exciting insurance investigative industry.

Check all our open positions at: https://lnkd.in/eBdhf87