In Florida, insurance fraud may be charged as a felony or a misdemeanor, depending on the actual circumstances of the offense as well as the value of intended or actual damages to the insurer.
Definition of Insurance Fraud
Insurance fraud is an offense which involves defrauding an insurance company either by making a fraudulent claim or by destroying one’s own property to collect insurance money.
Insurance fraud may be committed in regards to any type of insurance, including these:
- Auto insurance
- Homeowner’s insurance
- Life insurance
- Medicaid/Medicare insurance
- Other insurance
Virtually any individual or business with insurance may face allegations of fraud after filing a claim if it is suspected or discovered that the claim may have been filed when no actual losses occurred, when the value of the claim is higher than the property lost, or when the insured caused the damages him or herself.