Private investigations
Insurance Fraud and Claims Investigations
Sub rosa surveillance, claimant background and activity checks, and records work for carriers, special investigation units, third-party administrators and defense counsel. We document what a claimant actually does, and we report it whether it helps the file or not.
When you need an insurance fraud investigation
An insurance fraud investigation is a licensed, independent fact-finding assignment that tests whether a claim matches reality: whether the injury limits what the claimant says it limits, whether the loss happened the way it was reported, and whether the people involved are who they say they are. Most files we see are not fraud. They are claims where the medical picture, the recorded statement and the claimant’s daily life do not quite line up, and an adjuster or attorney needs facts instead of a hunch.
Typical triggers include:
- A claimant on total temporary disability who is rumored to be working a side job
- Injuries that seem to improve on weekends and worsen before each medical appointment
- A theft or fire loss reported shortly after a policy was bound or limits were raised
- A staged-looking collision with several passengers using the same clinic and the same attorney
- Prior claims, prior injuries or a prior address that never came up in the application
- Defense counsel preparing for a deposition, an independent medical exam or trial
What we deliver
Each assignment is scoped to the question on the file. Use one service or combine them.
Sub rosa surveillance
Time-stamped video of a claimant’s activity in public view, built around the restrictions in the medical record. In Arizona this is in-house surveillance. Out of state, we coordinate vetted, locally licensed partner agencies.
Claimant background and activity checks
Court filings, prior claims indicators, liens, business filings, licensing and address history. Records work runs in-house for claimants anywhere in the US.
Social media and open-source review
A documented OSINT sweep of public posts, race results, marketplace listings and business pages, captured with dates and URLs so the material can be authenticated later.
Statements and scene work
Neighbor and witness canvasses, recorded statements from willing witnesses, and scene photographs for property and auto losses.
Workers’ compensation files have their own rhythm, from return-to-work disputes to light-duty refusals. Our workers’ compensation investigations page covers that work in detail.
How a claims assignment works
- Referral. Send the claim number, restrictions, known addresses, vehicles and the question you need answered. Do not send more medical detail than the assignment needs.
- Pre-surveillance check. We confirm the address, vehicles and household before anyone sits on a house, so field hours are not spent watching the wrong door.
- Written scope and quote. You approve the hours, days and deliverables in writing before work starts.
- Field and records work. Investigators document activity from public vantage points and run the records checks in parallel.
- Daily updates. You hear what happened each day, so you can stop, extend or redirect the assignment.
- Report and video. A chronological report, original video files and a hash log, prepared to be court-ready if the claim is litigated.
Arizona rules that shape a claims investigation
Insurance fraud in Arizona is defined in A.R.S. 20-463. It covers knowingly presenting a statement to an insurer that contains untrue statements of material fact, or that leaves out a material fact, in an application, a claim or a payment. A person who does that with intent to injure, defraud or deceive an insurer commits a class 6 felony under A.R.S. 20-466.01.
A.R.S. 20-466 establishes the fraud unit in the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions. An insurer that believes a fraudulent claim has been or is being made must send the claim information to the director on the department’s form. The department publishes an Insurance Fraud Referral Form for that purpose. Our reports are written so an SIU can attach the facts to that referral without rewriting them.
Workers’ compensation has its own statute. A.R.S. 23-1028 makes it a class 6 felony to knowingly make a false statement to obtain compensation, and a convicted claimant forfeits future disability compensation on that claim. That is a serious consequence, which is exactly why the evidence has to be accurate and fair.
Arizona’s private investigator law, A.R.S. 32-2401 et seq., separates insurance adjusters from private investigators. An adjuster investigating a claim in the course of adjusting is not a private investigator. An outside firm hired to run surveillance or background work for a fee needs a DPS agency license. Ours is No. 1759795.
How we stay inside the lines:
- We film only what a claimant does in public view. We do not trespass, and we do not film into a home.
- We do not put trackers on vehicles. Covert GPS tracking of a person is restricted under the stalking statute, A.R.S. 13-2923.
- We do not pretext to obtain medical, phone or bank records, and we do not access private accounts.
- If a claimant is represented, we do not contact the claimant. Contact goes through counsel.
Mistakes that weaken a fraud file
- Surveillance with no restrictions to test. Video of someone walking to a mailbox proves nothing unless you know what the doctor said they cannot do.
- Ignoring the Arizona heat. From June to September, outdoor activity moves to early morning and evening. A shift that starts at nine in the morning may miss the whole day.
- Waiting too long. Activity is most relevant before a deposition, an independent medical exam or a return-to-work decision. Schedule around those dates.
- Screenshots without context. A cropped image of a social post invites a fight over authenticity. Capture the URL, the date and the full page.
- Editing out the boring parts. Keep the original files. A short clip without the full footage behind it looks selective.
Who this is for
- Carrier special investigation units
- Claims adjusters and supervisors
- Third-party administrators
- Self-insured employers and public entities
- Insurance defense attorneys
- Risk managers handling liability claims
How it is priced
We do not list prices. Cost depends on how many days of surveillance the file needs, how far the claimant lives from Phoenix or Tucson, and how much records work runs alongside. We quote in writing before any work starts, and field hours do not go past the approved cap without your written approval.
| Included | Quoted separately |
|---|---|
| Pre-surveillance address and vehicle confirmation | Additional surveillance days beyond the approved scope |
| Daily status updates | Out-of-state field work through partner agencies |
| Chronological report with original video and hash log | Recorded witness statements and canvasses |
| Secure delivery of files | Deposition or trial testimony |
Frequently asked questions
Is sub rosa surveillance legal in Arizona?
Yes, when it records what a person does in public view and a licensed investigator does the work. It is not legal to trespass, record private conversations you are not part of, or track a person with a hidden GPS device. We do none of those.
What if the surveillance shows the claimant is genuinely hurt?
Then that is what the report says. We document what happened, including activity that supports the claim. A fair file protects the carrier as much as a damaging one does.
Can you investigate a claimant who lives outside Arizona?
Records and open-source work, yes, anywhere in the US. Out-of-state surveillance goes through vetted, locally licensed partner agencies under our coordination, with one report format.
Do you report suspected fraud to the state?
The carrier reports, because the duty in A.R.S. 20-466 sits with the insurer. We write findings so they can be attached to the department’s referral form, and we cooperate with investigators and prosecutors when the client asks us to.
Will an investigator testify about the video?
Yes. The investigator who recorded the footage can authenticate it and explain the report at deposition or trial. Testimony is quoted separately.
Related services
- Litigation support and witness location
- Asset search and judgment recovery
- Background checks
- Social media and website evidence preservation
- Expert witness testimony
Related guides
- Sub rosa surveillance for insurance defense
- Insurance claim fraud investigation for carriers
- OSINT for insurance fraud
Sources: A.R.S. 20-463, insurance fraud, A.R.S. 20-466, fraud unit, A.R.S. 23-1028, false statements to obtain workers’ compensation, Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions, Insurance Fraud, A.R.S. 32-2401, private investigator definitions.
Request this service
Tell us what you need in a few lines. Your request goes straight to the right team, and you get a written quote before any work starts.
Guides on this topic
Put facts behind the claim decision
Send the referral online and it goes straight to the investigations team. If a claimant is about to move, sell an asset or leave the state before a hearing, use our urgent intake form.