Posts Tagged ‘ Insurance Fraud ’

Woman’s FBI Fib Raises Red Flags in Insurance Scam

August 24th, 2011. By AbiK

File under “What the hell was she thinking?”

Ok–here’s a flashback. 1984. Divine Sounds. “What People do for Money”. That’s it above. I’m thinking it must not of been on Bridgette Buckner’s Walkman way back when—otherwise she might’ve had a clue as to what would be in store for her should she ever foresee a future in fraud.

Which she did.

Yes, Bridgette Buckner, 50, of Bartlett IL, was a Totally Tortelicious, insurance fraud laughingstock waiting to happen. And here’s what happened…

Buckner clearly needed some cash—and what better way to get it than to get it from a dead person? So she claimed her husband died. Oh not just once like most husbands are eventually wont to do, but TWICE! Complete with forged death certificates and Lord knows what other supporting documentation.

She also claimed to have lost three children who apparently only lived in her mind—but that’s another, albeit related, story.

So back to the hubby with two lives. According to the Courier-News, Buckner worked for Hallmark Services in Aurora, IL. And it was there that she filed her life insurance claims. But—and this is the part I absolutely love—she claimed her husband—the second but same one who died previously, was an FBI agent who died in the line of fire! Boy, when Buckner claims a death she lets it rip (no pun) with the heroics, no?

And…the security consultants who wound up reviewing her claim were actually former FBI agents—what, pray tell, are the odds of that? Needless to say, Buckner could not possibly have raised any more red flags to alert her employer to her insurance scam.

As the story unwinds, Buckner’s husband is alive and kicking–he’s estranged (any guesses as to why? ok…ok…my bad) and not an FBI agent. When presented with these tidbits, Buckner was reportedly incredulous stating, “You mean he’s not dead?” How the investigators refrained from responding with “Well, he did rise up from the dead once before, right?” is beyond me.

Poor Bridgette. She’s now set to be sentenced next month. And p.s., she’s since added being charged with identity theft.

Tags: Bridgette Buckner, FBI, Hallmark Services, Identity Theft, Insurance Fraud, Insurance scam, life insurance
Posted in Emerging Issues, Insurance | No Comments »

NY Life Insurance Agents Sued for Elder Financial Abuse

February 3rd, 2011. By LucyC

Beware of Agents Bearing ‘Gifts’?

What would you do with 20 life insurance policies? Would you even buy 20 life insurance polices? Probably not, that is, if you knew what you were doing. Mary Mullen, an institutionalized senior—in her 80s—with Alzheimer’s disease, did not know what she was doing and so relied on salesmen from New York Life Insurance to take care of her. Instead, they took care of themselves. Those 20 life insurance policies– by the way—cost $600,000—and involved a number of elaborate schemes including an arranged marriage. New York Life, for their part, apparently refuses to investigate the suspicious policies, for which “the primary motivation” was “commissions and premiums.”

The whole sorry saga, which is now the subject of a lawsuit, began in 1994, when, according to Rebecca McFarland, trustee of the Mary Mullen Revocable Trust, one John Palmateer approached Mullen representing himself as an expert in insurance and financial matters. McFarland claims he gained Mary Mullen’s trust by visiting her occasionally, sometimes at the hospital. Of course, most people at this point would ask—’what about her family?’ Well, Mary Mullen had family, but they all lived out of state. Palmateer is accused of keeping the truth about Mullen’s deteriorating health from her family.

Palmateer also stands accused of collaborating with Mullen’s neighbor, Guido “Jack” Chirillo, to defraud the elderly woman of her assets. According to the complaint, “At Palmateer’s suggestion and direction, Chirillo married Mullen, who was then 87 years old, ostensibly to assist with the care of Mullen.” And, you guessed it, her family was never notified. BTW—Chirillo and Mullen never lived together.

The complaint also states, “Palmateer and [Jeffrey] Knight participated in a series of steps to Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: elder abuse, Insurance, Insurance Fraud
Posted in Elder Care Abuse, Financial | 2 Comments »