Latest news with #insurancefraud
CBS News
4 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Vallejo woman arrested for alleged fake carjacking, insurance fraud scheme in Madera County
A Vallejo woman was arrested after allegedly faking a carjacking last week in Madera County as part of an insurance fraud scheme, authorities said. In a Facebook post on Wednesday, the Madera County Sheriff's Office said that on May 23 at 8 a.m., dispatchers received a 911 call from a woman identified as Martha Gutierrez DeRomero. The 57-year-old DeRomero said she had been carjacked at a remote intersection north of Madera near county Fire Station 3. DeRomero told responding deputies that she was driving her white Chevrolet van packed with merchandise to sell at a local swap meet and she had pulled over to the side the road to adjust a shifting load. According to the post, she told deputies that two masked males approached and took her at knifepoint. DeRomero said the van contained about $60,000 in merchandise, which consisted of fitness clothing, waist trainers and supplements, the post said. After the description of the suspects and the van was issued to surrounding law enforcement agencies, deputies with the Merced County Sheriff's Office found the van on Sandy Mush Road in Merced. Following an investigation and follow-up interview with DeRomero, detectives determined that she and her boyfriend, 57-year-old Alfredo Ledezma of Madera, had staged the carjacking as part of an insurance fraud scheme, the Sheriff's Office said. The alleged stolen merchandise was later found in a storage facility in Merced. Martha Gutierrez DeRomero, van seen in abandoned in a field in Merced County Madera County Sheriff's Office DeRomero was booked into the Madera County Jail for felony insurance fraud, conspiracy, and filing a false police report. Ledezma also potentially faces charges of insurance fraud and conspiracy, the office said. "What began as a serious and concerning report of a violent carjacking quickly unraveled under careful investigation," said Madera County Sheriff Tyson Pogue in a prepared statement. "Attempting to exploit emergency services for personal gain is not only illegal, it diverts resources from those who truly need help. I'm proud of our team for seeing through the deception and holding those responsible accountable." Pogue told CBS 47 Fresno that deputies got DeRomero to admit to the scheme during interviews. "Her story just didn't make a whole lot of sense. So, when they start following up on these leads, essentially, you know, the dots didn't connect," Pogue told CBS 47. "They determined that she was probably not being truthful and ultimately got her to confess that she was lying about the incident." Pogue also told CBS 47 the initial report of a carjacking prompted an emergency response from all corners of the county. "It's extremely concerning, extremely upsetting that someone would be so selfish to the safety of others to drag those resources into an incident for something that, you know, some say they're just completely making up for insurance fraud," Pogue told CBS 47.
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Daily Mail
'Very wealthy' businesswoman who was 'infatuated' with her burglar boyfriend is jailed for insurance fraud after he masterminded £350,000 raid on her home
A 'very wealthy' businesswoman who was 'infatuated' with her burglar boyfriend has been jailed after she fraudulently claimed on insurance for a £350,000 raid that he masterminded on her home. Emma O'Shea was regarded as a 'soft target' by Dean Ryan, who hired an associate to break into the house and make off with 'high value' diamond jewellery, designer handbags, and envelopes containing thousands of pounds of cash. But after discovering the raid, the 46-year-old - who refused to believe her partner was involved - tried to con insurers into paying out before fleeing to the Caribbean to avoid having to appear at his trial. Jailing the mother-of-one for 30 months, a judge branded O'Shea 'selfish' over her insurance fraud following the raid on her £900,000 home in Portsmouth, Hampshire. It was heard that O'Shea - who now lives in a £1.5 million home - was 'infatuated' with her partner at the time, business owner Ryan, 41. Among the stolen items from O'Shea's home was a Tiffany engagement ring worth £15,000, Tiffany platinum diamond earrings worth £16,000, and a Tiffany platinum diamond ring worth £22,000. Tanzanite diamond earrings worth £43,000 were swiped, a chain diamond necklace worth £58,000 was taken, as were diamond earrings worth £34,000 and a £27,000 round diamond necklace. Several Chanel handbags, each worth up to £10,000, were stolen as well as Rolex watches worth £7,300, plus sapphire diamond rings and eternity bands worth £4,000 and £8,425, and loose diamonds, worth up to £14,000. After Ryan orchestrated the raid, O'Shea refused to believe he was behind the burglary and tried to 'protect' him when he faced justice. The couple agreed to trick O'Shea's home insurance provider by smashing a window and claiming it was broken during the break-in, prosecutors said. When Ryan was due to stand trial for the burglary, O'Shea - who was still seen as the victim at the time - caused the case to collapse by failing to appear in court. She hid out in Barbados to avoid giving evidence against Ryan and intimidated her housekeeper, who was also due to give evidence, by warning her 'you won't get another penny'. Mother of one O'Shea denied her offending but on Thursday was jailed for 30 months for conspiracy to commit fraud, perverting the course of justice, and witness intimidation. Her mother, Sarah O'Shea, 70, went on trial alongside her for perverting the course of justice - by telling her daughter to stay in the Caribbean - and she was sentenced to six months in custody, suspended for 12 months. Ryan, who pleaded guilty at the start of the trial in January this year, was jailed for four years. He admitted conspiracy to commit burglary of a dwelling, conspiracy to commit fraud, and perverting the course of justice. Some of the luxury items stolen in the raid were taken out of O'Shea's safe, which was unlocked with a key He is already serving a nine-year sentence for an armed robbery which took place in December 2021. Ryan's associate Gary Cleeve, 45, who burgled the house, denied conspiracy to commit burglary of a dwelling and has been sentenced to three years in prison. Both Ryan and Cleeve refused to attend the sentencing at Portsmouth Crown Court. Sentencing O'Shea, Judge William Ashworth said that she 'acted in her own personal selfish self-interest' when she pleaded not guilty to the charges against her, placing a 'burden' on her family. He said: 'Sadly, Miss Emma O'Shea is still in denial about her involvement in these offences. 'She's very wealthy indeed, and found herself infatuated by Dean Ryan. He found it convenient to have a relationship with her and live under her roof. 'There's no doubt he saw her as a soft target in relation to the burglary before using Miss O'Shea as his own alibi and then playing the role of affronted boyfriend when the burglary was discovered. 'However, when Miss O'Shea realised that the burglar hadn't damaged the property so that her insurance policy was invalid, it wasn't Mr Ryan who was asking her to fraudulently do the window break - quite the reverse. 'It was her asking Mr Ryan to do it for her, which he did. 'She then proceeded to ask Wioletta Krol [her housekeeper] to back up her story that the window had been broken and then hoped that she could then recover the full sum from the insurance company.' It was heard that Ms Krol had £12,000 in cash stolen but O'Shea has only given her £7,000 back. The court heard that Ryan moved into O'Shea's townhouse in the Southsea area of Portsmouth after they struck up a relationship in 2021. The eight-minute burglary which prosecutor Dale Sullivan said took place in the afternoon of March 20, 2022, was committed while Ryan was on bail for armed robbery. Ryan has had 16 convictions for 34 offences committed between 1999 and 2004. He colluded with Cleeve, who raided the property while the couple were out. Mr Sullivan said O'Shea was alerted to the burglary thanks to an alert from her Ring doorbell. Worried she had been burgled, O'Shea called police but also called her housekeeper Mrs Krol asking her to check her home as she was closer. Mrs Krol found two ladders propped against the back wall and - crucially - that the dressing room window was open and had not been smashed. Approximately £350,000 worth of high value jewellery including Tanzanite and Tiffany diamonds, Chanel handbags, Rolex watches and cash were removed from the property by Cleeve. Subsequently Mrs Krol heard Ryan and O'Shea speaking about the window being open and agreeing they would smash it so it would look better for the insurance company. The following day, when Mrs Krol went to O'Shea's address to work, she found that the window had been smashed. Mr Sullivan said O'Shea's insurance policy did not cover theft unless there was force used to enter and no force was used to exit. By the end of April 2022, police arrested Ryan and Cleeve. O'Shea told police that she did not accept that her partner Ryan was in any way involved, and asked that he could remain living at the house. In July 2023 Ryan and Cleeve were due to be tried at Portsmouth Crown Court and Mrs Krol and O'Shea were due to give evidence. Mother of one O'Shea had told the court she was due to be on holiday in France at the time of the trial but was served with a witness summons, ordering her to attend. She instead went to Barbados at the time of the trial - but told the UK court service a 'flat out lie' that she was 'on the South Pacific'. The trial had to be aborted after O'Shea failed to attend. Mr Sullivan said it emerged O'Shea had been communicating with Ryan while he was in custody and relaying information to her daughter in Barbados. Mrs O'Shea urged her daughter to remain outside of the UK while the trial took place. Mrs Krol told the court in a victim impact statement that O'Shea was 'like family' to her before the burglary took place. Sarah O'Shea will have to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work as part of her sentence.
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Young drivers increasing target of this insurance scam with cases jumping 50% in two years
Young drivers have become a huge target for fraudsters attempting to scam them out of thousands of pounds with the promise of cheaper motor insurance. With 17 to 19-year-olds facing premiums almost three times the UK average and motorists between 20 and 29 typically paying double, these drivers have become prey for scam artists pedalling fake car insurance policies. The Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) says it has detected a 50 per cent jump in 'ghost broker' activity in the last two years as it urges caution to younger motorists who might be tempted by offers of cut-price cover. Ghost brokers impersonate car insurance brokers on social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok wanting to make contact via messaging services like WhatsApp with the promise of significantly cheaper cover than they would be quoted by genuine insurers. The IFB says it can have 'devastating' impact on those falling foul of the scam, with victims left thousands of pounds out of pocket, having their identities stolen and vehicles seized, and potentially facing criminal consequences for driving uninsured. To make young people more aware of this fraudulent activity, it has listed four major red flags they need to watch out for. The IFB says in 2022 it detected 320 intelligence networks relating to ghost broker activities. This grew to 435 in 2023 and 485 during 2024 - a 52 per cent increase on two years previous. Ghost brokers go to extreme lengths to masquerade as genuine insurance brokers presenting what look like legitimate policies at far lower prices. These criminals alter policy details to make them appear less expensive. Sometimes it is only when drivers try to make a claim that they realise the policy is not valid. This type of criminal activity commonly preys on younger drivers who are typically more trusting of social media. A YouGov survey commissioned by the IFB and carried out among more than 2,000 people across the UK in May 2024 found that nearly a fifth of 18 to 24-year-olds have used social media to search for car insurance. A poll by Aviva last year - surveying 2,000 drivers under 25 - also found 30 per cent admitted to buying invalid or fake car insurance from someone on social media. Younger motorists are also likely to be less financially savvy while also facing the steepest insurance costs. Money Supermarket's latest report for the first quarter of the year says the average premium paid across all motorists was £539.41. However, for youngest on the road (17 to 19-year-olds) are forking out almost three times that amount at £1408.98 a year. For drivers aged 20 to 29, the average price paid in the first three months of the year was £1091.13 - almost twice the national average. Criminals may try to lure people by offering cheap upfront quotes, despite insurance prices being based on the risk of the individual. Policies are taken out using stolen details which belong to people who are cheaper to insure and sold on at an artificially reduced rate, or they may simply be copied on to a piece of paper. Ghost brokers may also do further damage to their victims by stealing their personal information to use in other crimes, such as banking fraud. To help protect young drivers, the Association of British Insurers (ABI), the City of London Police and the IFB, in association with the Government's Stop! Think Fraud campaign, have launched a drive to raise awareness of the signs of ghost broking. Ursula Jallow, IFB director, said: 'New drivers are caught out by ghost brokers because they face higher premiums and have had less experience in purchasing insurance policies for themselves, which unfortunately means they are more likely to be attracted to car insurance deals that are too good to be true. 'The impact is devastating. We've seen victims lose thousands of pounds, have their identities stolen, their confidence and self-esteem shattered, and, in some cases, they have even had their car seized for driving uninsured. 'It's really important that we spread the word to help protect young drivers from ghost brokers.' Around 115,000 fraudulent motor insurance policies were detected by the IFB in partnership with the insurance industry between 2023 and 2024, with ghost brokers believed to be responsible for thousands of these cases. Fraud minister Lord Hanson said: 'Young people especially need to be aware that the scammers are deliberately targeting them through their social media feeds with attractive and authentic-looking offers which will leave them ripped off and driving uninsured.' Detective chief inspector Nik Jethwa, from the City of London Police's Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department, added: 'Always be cautious when buying insurance. 'Ask yourself: is the insurance broker you are dealing with really who they say they are? 'If you aren't sure, check the lists of authorised brokers at the Financial Conduct Authority and British Insurance Brokers' Association websites.' Ghost broker red flags The IFB has listed four key red flags that typically giveaway a ghost broker. These are: 1. The policy may be unrealistically cheap, with an upfront quote. 2. The seller only wants to communicate in private direct messages on social media or WhatsApp. Messages can often include bad spelling and typically provide vague details. 3. The advert may look unprofessional. 4. The seller may not have a legitimate website, UK landline number or address. If drivers experience any of these, there are ways to check the legitimacy of those offering cheap cover. You can then: 1. Check the insurance broker is registered with the British Insurance Brokers' Association. 2. If dealing with an insurer, check they are a member of the Motor Insurers' Bureau. 3. Whether broker or insurer, check they are registered with the Financial Conduct Authority. Anyone who thinks they have been a victim of ghost broking or other fraud can report their concerns to CheatLine or by calling 0800 422 0421.
Daily Mail
09-05-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Inside the tropical Hua Hin lovenest of army major Graeme Davidson accused of murdering his wife in Queensland kayak 'drowning' - where their SON is now hiding out with his father's new young Thai bride
The son of a retired army major accused of drowning his first wife while kayaking in Queensland is holed up with his father's new bride in Thailand. Hamish Davidson has come down from his home in Bangkok to stay with Pick Pattraporn at the coastal resort of Hua Hin while his father Graeme languishes in an Australian prison cell. On Sunday, Graeme Davidson was charged with murdering his wife of 26 years - Hamish's mother Jacqueline - at Lake Samsonvale, north of Brisbane, in November 2020. Police allege Davidson killed Jacqueline after their marriage had broken down and later tried to claim more than $1million in life insurance policies. Glasgow-born Davidson spent 22 years in the British Army before emigrating to Australia and serving 11 more years in uniform for his adopted country. He moved to Hua Hin, 200km south of Bangkok, five months after Jacqueline's death and in December the following year married Pattraporn. The 55-year-old bought a four-level home near the beach where his son and second wife were supporting each other when Daily Mail Australia spoke to Hamish on Friday. Hamish came downstairs for a brief conversation and said neither he nor his stepmother wanted to discuss the arrest of his father or the murder and fraud charges he is facing. 'We don't wish to speak with the media,' the heavily tattooed son said in a thick British accent. 'We'd appreciate privacy through this.' His stepmother later told Daily Mail Australia in a telephone call: 'I don't have anything to say.' After Daily Mail Australia left the house, a woman believed to be Pick Pattraporn parted the curtains on the third floor and had a peek outside. A Thai maid was earlier seen doing chores around the house and a young Thai man ran errands, including a trip to a supermarket in recent days. Police did not initially think Jacqueline Davidson's death was suspicious when the 54-year-old beautician drowned while kayaking with her husband on November 27, 2020. But coronial inquiry led detectives to cast doubts over Jacqueline's death and Operation Victor Harlow was launched to investigate whether it was a homicide. Davidson, who had moved to Hua Hin in April 2021, was arrested while visiting Brisbane for a family matter last weekend and was refused bail. Detective Acting Inspector Steve Windsor told reporters on Monday that the fraud charges against Davidson concern money allegedly obtained by life insurance claims. 'The combined life insurance was in excess of $1million,' he said. 'And there was an attempted fraud, a claim was made. 'Incidents are not always what they initially seem, so I thank the detectives for their diligent work in this lengthy and arduous investigation.' Davidson was well-prepared for his move to Thailand a year into the Covid pandemic, posting his plans on the Hua Hin Expats Facebook page. 'I am flying into Bangkok in April before moving to Hua Hin,' he wrote on April 4, 2021. 'Can you still fly in and get a 30 days visa? 'I already have health insurance (explicitly covering COVID) and can buy a flight out if required. I also have both a UK and Australian passport.' By October the following year Davidson was asking for recommendations for a part-time gardener and a full-time maid for work near Hua Hin hospital. A month later he was expressing interest in buying a house between the beach and one of Hua Hin's main roads. 'I'm specifically seeking houses under market value that have possibly been on the market a while and probably need some kind of renovating,' he wrote online. Davidson refined his desired location to south of Hua Hin airport and no more than 250m from the sea. He set a maximum budget of 40 million baht (about $1.9million). 'I don't mind if one house or many less expensive houses,' he wrote. 'Obviously if you are selling land I need enough money left to build something on it within my budget. A tent on 40,000 land won't rent.' While Davidson stated he intended to rent out the property he wished to purchase, the description of what he wanted to buy matches where he ended up living. That place is between a main road and a beach near Hua Hin hospital in the Bor Fai district south of the airport. The home has a pool and jacuzzi and was last offered for sale for about 10 million baht ($470,000) but after recent renovations might be worth 14 million ($660,000). A local real estate agent explained foreigners can buy a house in Thailand but they cannot purchase land. Property sale prices are not available publicly. Davidson registered a company called Davidson Holidays Pty Ltd in October 2021. Company records list Davidson as the director with a Thai national holding 51 per cent of shares and the other 49 per cent in the hands of an Australian. Davidson appears to have lived a carefree existence in his beachside retreat. He once put out a Facebook plea: 'Does anyone know where you can buy wild caught salmon - not farmed?' In June 2022, Davidson provided an online review of a restaurant and the 'absolutely delicious' menu he was 'working through one night at a time'. 'A particularly well stocked bar and excellent value for money,' he wrote. 'Friendly service and warm atmosphere.' In December that year, almost two years to the day after his first wife's death, Davidson remarried and was pictured grinning alongside his beautiful young bride as they posed with fistfuls of cash while toasting each other. The groom was dressed in a kilt as he was filmed dancing down the street, surrounded by his new wife's family for the nuptials. Hamish and his two sisters do not appear in any of the pictures or video posted on social media from the celebrations which went on late into the night. Two months later, one of Davidson's friends described a night out with him and his 'lovely wife' at Hua Hin floating market - a collection of shops on piers connected by wooden walkways. Graeme Donaldson spent much of his time in Hua Hin playing pickleball with his wife (pictured, circled) with both ex-pats and locals Davidson had settled into married life for the second time in Thailand, where foreigners can get a retirement visa if they are aged 50 or over and do not work. The visa can be renewed every year if its holder has 800,000 baht in the bank or can show they earn at least 65,000 baht a month from a source such as a pension paid by their homeland. Donaldson spent much of his time in Hua Hin playing pickleball with his wife. He was also active in the Hua Hin Veterans Group, helping organise Anzac Day and Armistice Day gatherings at a bar popular with expats. English-language media outlet Surf Radio noted on its Facebook page this week that Davidson had been charged with murder in Australia. Davidson's mate Walter Meier responded to Surf Radio's post by urging those rushing to judgment to show caution. 'Totally shocked!' Meier wrote. 'And not convinced of anything yet. 'Graeme is a good friend. I listened carefully to him tell me this story more than once. At this point, all we know is an arrest was made.' Davidson made no appearance when his charges were mentioned at Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday. His case will return to court on May 19.
Daily Mail
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Bombshell details emerge of how accused killer started a White Lotus life overseas with his new young Thai bride - just months after he allegedly murdered his first wife in a kayak 'drowning'
An Army major accused of murdering his wife in a kayak drowning incident left Australia to marry a young Thai bride in his new White Lotus-style life in Thailand. Graeme Davidson, 55, and his wife of 26 years, Jacqueline, 54, were canoeing on Lake Samsonvale, north of Brisbane, on November 27, 2020 when the mother-of-three drowned. It was initially thought to be a tragic accident and Queensland Police initially said there were no suspicious circumstances. But on Monday, as Davidson made a flying visit back to Australia, detectives swooped to arrest him for his wife's alleged murder and an attempted $1million life insurance fraud. Daily Mail Australia can now reveal Davidson left Australia five months after his wife's death to move to the Thai resort of Hua Hin, 200km south of Bangkok, in April 2021. And almost two years to the day after his wife's death, Davidson married his new young Thai bride, Pick Pattraporn, in a traditional ceremony in December 2022. Dressed in a kilt and wearing an array of medals, Scots-born Davidson was filmed dancing down the street as he tied the knot, surrounded by his new wife's family and locals. His adult son and two daughters do not appear in any of the pictures or video from the celebrations which went on late into the night. Davidson moved to the beachside paradise after his first wife's tragic death and appears to have been running an estate agent consultancy with his new wife's help. The pair are also keen pickleball players at the local sports centre. The latest season of the HBO drama White Lotus was based in Thailand and focused partly on middle-aged Western men romancing beautiful younger Asian women. In the show, the Western men were branded LBHs by the women - Losers Back Home. On his second wedding day, Davidson, originally from Glasgow, was seen grinning alongside his new bride as they posed with fistfuls of cash while toasting each other. One well wisher congratulated the happy couple admitting she was envious of her friend. 'My dear friend Pick Pattraporn,' she wrote under smiling wedding snaps of the couple. 'Im glad that my friends life has changed so quickly. 'From already good, to best - envious!' Davidson - who was a captain in the British Army before moving to Australia, with more than 30 years of military service - was active in Hua HIn's expat community. He played a key role in the local Veterans Remembrance Day and was interviewed about his own service on the local English-language Surf Radio, when he encouraged new members to join him for a drink. It's believed his son Hamish has since joined him in Thailand and his daughter Robyn recently visited her father in Asia. He was arrested when detectives burst into the home where he was staying on his trip back to Australia and found him sleeping on a campbed in the lounge room. A close friend, who has known him since 2010, told Daily Mail Australia of his shock at the arrest. 'This is very raw and I know the children well,' said the friend, who wished to remain anonymous. 'Jacqui was a beautiful woman and very friendly, Graeme was a financially- and career-driven individual.' The former friend of the couple is now helping detectives with their investigation. Detective Acting Inspector Steve Windsor confirmed the fraud charge concerns money that was allegedly obtained from life insurance claims against his wife's death. 'The combined life insurance was in excess of $1 million,' he said after Davidson's arrest. 'And there was an attempted fraud, a claim was made. 'Incidents are not always what they initially seem, so I thank the detectives for their diligent work in this lengthy and arduous investigation. 'This is also an important reminder to the community to report any suspicious circumstances to police as you see them.' Onlookers rushed to help Ms Davidson after she was spotted in the water but she could not be revived when she was brought ashore. Emergency services performed CPR but she died at the scene. 'Initially, the woman's death appeared to be non-suspicious,' Queensland Police said in a statement. However, a coronial inquiry led to detectives declaring it suspicious and launching Operation Victor Harlow. The 'complex and lengthy' probe gathered witness and expert statements, including information about the conditions of the lake at the time of Ms Davidson's death. 'Police will allege the man was involved in the drowning death of the woman,' police said. He was refused police bail and made no appearance at Brisbane Magistrates Court when the matter was mentioned on Monday. Davidson's served 22 years in the British Army before transferring to the Australian Army. He was based in HQ 1 Division, Enoggera Barracks in Brisbane in 2010. Davidson will remain in custody, with the matter to be mentioned again on May 19.
