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

This was posted on Wednesday, August 24th, 2011 at 3:05 pm and is filed under Emerging Issues, Insurance . Feel free to respond, or trackback. Read our comments policy.