fraud-related stories
Fake sick notes
Years ago, I worked at a publishing company. The average age in my department was around 24; we worked hard, but we also had a lot of fun. One day, a co-worker called in and left a voice mail saying that he wasn't going to be in the office that day. He didn't say he was sick, he didn't cite some personal emergency... he said "I just can't do the day." Haven't we all felt like that from time to time? Most work environments wouldn't take so kindly to an employee just taking an unscheduled slacker day, however.
Now there's a website that sells fake doctor's notes. The site states that the notes -- printed with the illness of your choice -- are for novelty purposes only, but they also offer a money-back guarantee if the notes don't get you a free pass from work or school.
Are you making plans for your next escape already? Too bad... the notes are printed on the UK's National Health Service (NHS) paper. Plus, according to the NHS, it's legal in the UK to print and sell the notes but it is illegal to receive payment (e.g. sick pay from work) after using such a note.
False dental claims drive big dollars
When you're a young child going to the dentist, it can be scary. Not everyone feels comfortable sitting in that big chair with a huge light hovering over his or her head. But when someone is an adult and still gets chills when thinking about a supposedly trustworthy dentist working on their mouth, something is wrong.That describes the feeling of one person who fell victim to a crook who just so happened to work on teeth too. Dentists are fantastic, but like in any job, some are out for money (and not your well-being). Take this guy who was profiled by ABC News as an example. He put a lot of people in unnecessary pain and now serves time in jail for it -- not to mention a slew of lawsuits from ex-patients.
Phantom billing is another way to subtly charge someone's insurance for services never actually performed. It can drive huge amounts of money and max out your benefits if left unchecked. While this is certainly not an epidemic, it goes without saying that you should stay keen. Some people may not have to worry about this issue, as they see the same professional year in and year out. But be wary of sudden surgeries or get a second opinion if insurance won't cover certain expenses. However, if you have a family doctor that you already entrust your dental care with, no need to worry!
Kevin Trudeau's Weight Loss Cure sued by the FTC
According to this post on Diet Blog, Controversial author Kevin Trudeau is being sued by the FTC for mis-representing his book, the Weight Loss Cure, in infomercials. Ads promoting the book make several false claims, including suggesting that the plan is easy to follow (it's not) and that it requires a short-term commitment with long-term results (it's a life-long commitment.)Still, Trudeau is used to bad publicity -- he's a well-known fraud who has been pushing all sorts of products for years. He's been a target of the FTC for a long time. And yet his books still are selling millions of copies. Want to know more about Kevin Trudeau? Read this.























