County of Sonoma
Language
District Attorney › Divisions › Insurance Fraud Unit
Office of the District Attorney

Insurance Fraud Unit

Insurance Fraud title over a gavel and block

The Sonoma County District Attorney’s Insurance Fraud Unit prosecutes all forms of insurance fraud and related crimes, including Workers’ Compensation Fraud and Automobile Insurance Fraud. The Unit works closely with the California Department of Insurance and the fraud units of various insurance companies, other District Attorney’s Offices, and other local agencies to investigate and prosecute these crimes.

It is the Fraud Unit’s mission to investigate fraudulent claims and aggressively prosecute violators, thereby deterring others from similar conduct by demonstrating its consequences.

Featured

Worker compensation document packet with a gavel resting on top

Workers' Compensation Insurance Fraud Information

More Information on Workers' Compensation Insurance Fraud

Two cars after colliding in a fender bender, one driver dialing on their cellphone

Automobile Insurance Fraud Information

More Information on Automobile Insurance Fraud

Gavel striking a question mark

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to your most frequently asked insurance fraud questions

Paper with Resources note pinned to a cork board

Resources

Additional insurance fraud resources

Injured construction worker being consoled by coworker

WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE FRAUD

Injured construction worker being consoled by coworker

The Workers' Compensation Insurance system is a valuable program designed to protect and compensate workers for injuries and illnesses occurring in the workplace. Benefits can include medical treatment, disability payments, job displacement benefits, and death benefits.  All employers are required to have workers’ compensation insurance.

Workers’ Compensation Insurance Fraud negatively impacts industries, employees and employers, the medical profession, and local business within Sonoma County and throughout the state.

THERE ARE TWO MAIN TYPES OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE FRAUD:

  • Premium Fraud occurs when an employer does not have a workers’ compensation insurance policy, or an employer misrepresents the number and/or type of employees; and
  • Claimant Fraud occurs when a worker makes a fraudulent work injury claim, which can include exaggerating the extent or severity of an injury, working while collecting disability payments, or making a claim for a non-work-related injury.

> REPORT SUSPECTED WORKERS' COMP FRAUD  > WORKERS' COMP FRAUD INFORMATION

Two toy cars colliding on top of car insurance paperwork

AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE FRAUD

Two toy cars colliding on top of car insurance paperwork

It is illegal to drive in California without insurance.  California law requires drivers to show financial responsibility for their vehicle in case of injury to other people or damage to their property. Automobile Insurance Fraud contributes to rising insurance costs for all Californians. 

AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE FRAUD CAN PRESENT IN MANY WAYS, INCLUDING:

  • Claimant Fraud includes lying about when an accident occurred, claiming damage that pre-existed the policy, purchasing insurance after the fact, making false claims for personal injury, and lying about the identity of the driver to obtain coverage for the incident.
  • Premium Fraud includes withholding relevant information when purchasing a policy to receive a lower premium. Relevant information includes the disclosure of all drivers of the vehicle and if the vehicle is used for ride share or delivery purposes.

> REPORT AUTO INSURANCE FRAUD  > AUTO INSURANCE FRAUD INFORMATION

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

California Department of Insurance (CDI)  •  http://www.insurance.ca.gov/  •  (800) 927-HELP (4357)
Functions of CDI include licensing agents and brokers, resolving consumer complaints, and investigating and prosecuting insurance fraud

 

California State Compensation Fund (State Fund)  •  https://www.statefundca.com/  •  (888) 782-8338
State Fund is a not-for-profit provider of workers’ compensation insurance

  

Coalition Against Insurance Fraud (CAIF)  •  https://insurancefraud.org  •  (202) 393 7332
The Coalition Against Insurance Fraud unites the nation — empowering consumers to fight back, helping defeat this crime, working with leaders to fight back.

California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR)  •  http://www.dir.ca.gov/
DIR functions include monitoring the administration of workers’ compensation claims and assisting in resolving disputes that arise in connection with claims for workers’ compensation benefits

 

National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB)  •  https://www.nicb.org/  •  (847) 544-7002
NICB partners with insurance companies, consumers, and law enforcement to combat and prevent insurance crime.