| Foreclosure fraud…how desperate times can | | | | While many insurance companies employ special |
| lead to desperate measures | | | | investigations units to examine these claims, the |
| WESTBOROUGH, MA...The depth to which some | | | | volume of cases requires the assistance of |
| individuals will sink in the face of a foreclosure | | | | private investigations firms like L&W |
| continues to seek new levels. The latest ugly | | | | Investigations. L&W conducts site inspections, |
| trend involves the foreclosed individual stripping | | | | interviews with neighbors and takes limited and |
| their soon-to-be former homes of anything of | | | | comprehensive scope statements (recorded, if |
| value—countertops, chandeliers, rugs, plumbing | | | | necessary). |
| fixtures, etc. L&W Investigations, a private | | | | |
| investigations firm specializing in insurance claims, | | | | “You can feel a certain degree of sympathy |
| has become a regular authority on this | | | | for people in a foreclosure situation, but that in no |
| ever-increasing type of crime. | | | | way justifies insurance fraud. Especially when you |
| | | | | consider the costs associated with it run in the |
| “Because foreclosure is a process that takes | | | | billions,” said Lyons. |
| place over a period of time, the homeowner has | | | | |
| access to the home, even though it’s | | | | L&W Investigations works exclusively on workers |
| technically the bank’s. That gives them ample | | | | compensation, disability, liability, auto and property |
| opportunity to strip the home of any thing that | | | | claims. With its network of investigations |
| might have some value, even though items like | | | | territories across the U.S. and Canada, Puerto Rico |
| countertops, chandeliers and other things that are | | | | and the Hawaiian Islands, L&W boasts a client |
| attached to the home are considered part of the | | | | roster of more than 100 clients, ranging from |
| home,” said Neal Lyons, Chairman and CEO of | | | | insurance companies to third-party administrators, |
| Lyons & Wolivar Investigations, Inc. (L&W | | | | self-insured companies to law firms and |
| Investigations) | | | | municipalities. |
| | | | | |
| Since the bank doesn’t physically occupy the | | | | L&W employs seasoned investigators who |
| foreclosed home, discovering the removal of | | | | specialize in investigating insurance cases and |
| attached items usually occurs well after the fact. | | | | claims. All L&W investigators go through extensive |
| As part of the claims process, the bank’s | | | | training and have access to the most |
| insurance company will retain L&W Investigations | | | | state-of-the-art surveillance equipment. Among |
| to perform surveillance of foreclosed property to | | | | L&W’s offerings are: surveillance; statements; |
| see if the foreclosed homeowner returns to | | | | activity/disability checks; asset/background |
| remove more attached items. | | | | investigations; and medical audits/clinic inspections. |
| | | | | |
| Adds Lyons, “This kind of foreclosure scam | | | | For more information on L&W Investigations, Inc, |
| has created a whole new genre of criminal. And, it | | | | you can call their corporate offices at (508) |
| is a crime because even though you once owned | | | | 616-9370 or visit the Web site at |
| the home, as a foreclosed property you | | | | |
| don’t. Therefore whatever you take | | | | |
| that’s attached is considered burglary and | | | | Not your everyday investigations firm |
| destruction of private property and is | | | | Lyons &Wolivar Investigations, Inc. (L&W |
| prosecutable.” | | | | Investigations) specializes in investigating insurance |
| | | | | cases and claims. In addition to providing |
| In addition, L&W Investigations has also | | | | nationwide coverage, L&W investigators are highly |
| investigated other foreclosure-related crimes— | | | | trained specialists equipped with state-of-the-art |
| arson, burglaries, etc. Many of these crimes, | | | | surveillance technologies and other advanced |
| however, are revealed upon closer scrutiny of the | | | | systems to provide second-to-none results and |
| homeowner’s insurance claim and the red flag | | | | service. That includes online case status reports, |
| clues they provide. For example: | | | | video delivery by digital download or CD, DVD or |
| | | | | VHS tape, rush services at no extra charge and |
| - Policy date and date of the fire or burglary – | | | | much more. |
| if these dates are within a few weeks or months, | | | | |
| that’s a red flag. | | | | L&W Investigations territories are located across |
| - Occurrence of a burglary followed shortly | | | | the U.S. and the Hawaiian Islands as well as in |
| thereafter by a fire of the foreclosed house. | | | | Canada and Puerto Rico. |
| - Burglaries where little or no damage occurs to | | | | |
| the house. | | | | For additional information, visit the Web site at or |
| - Economic factors – homeowner owes more | | | | contact L&W’s corporate headquarters |
| on the house or property than it’s worth. | | | | located in Westborough, Massachusetts, at (508) |
| | | | | 616-9370. |
| | | | | |