They Can’t Work. Except You Keep Seeing Them Work.
Your employee filed a workers’ comp claim. Says their back is so bad they can’t work. Total disability. Needs months of treatment and full pay.
The medical paperwork looks legit. Doctor’s notes about pain. Physical therapy appointments. Prescription meds.
But something feels off.
You saw them move just fine when they didn’t know you were watching. A co-worker mentioned seeing them doing yard work. Their Facebook shows them at the gym. And their story about how it happened? Changes every time they tell it.
You’re thinking: are they faking this? Is this workers comp fraud with fake injuries? Or am I just being a suspicious jerk about someone who’s actually hurt?
I’m a private investigator who’s caught dozens of employees faking injuries. I’ve documented people “too disabled to work” roofing houses, playing basketball, going on ski trips—all while collecting disability checks.
Here’s how to spot workers comp fraud fake injuries and what to do about it.
Why They’re Doing This
Look, people fake injuries for pretty simple reasons:
Free money. They get paid to stay home. No work, full paycheck. That’s tempting.
Avoiding consequences. About to get fired? Suddenly an injury makes termination complicated. Workers comp fraud fake injuries is convenient timing.
Revenge. Mad about that promotion they didn’t get? Angry at management? This is payback.
The injury healed but the checks are nice. They were actually hurt but recovered faster than expected. Instead of coming back, they keep pretending because workers comp fraud fake injuries pays well.
Side hustle. They’re working another job for cash while collecting your disability checks. Double income.
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, workers’ comp fraud costs businesses billions. And a huge chunk is employees who fake injuries or milk real ones way longer than necessary.
Signs They’re Faking
You’re already suspicious. Here’s what you’re probably noticing:
The Timing Is Suspiciously Perfect
They filed right before you were going to fire them. Right after a bad review. Right when your busiest season hits and you can’t afford to lose anyone.
Workers comp fraud fake injuries often has convenient timing.
Nobody Saw the “Accident”
They claim it happened when they were alone. No witnesses. Can’t verify their story. Real accidents usually have witnesses or evidence. Fake ones happen when no one’s watching.
The Story Keeps Changing
First they lifted something wrong. Then they slipped. Then it was repetitive stress. The story shifts because they’re making it up as they go.
They Avoid Treatment
Skipping physical therapy. Refusing diagnostic tests. Not taking prescribed meds. Missing appointments.
People who actually hurt want to get better. Workers comp fraud fake injuries means avoiding tests that might prove nothing’s wrong.
Their Social Media Tells a Different Story
Facebook shows them hiking. Instagram at the gym. TikTok dancing at parties. All while claiming they can barely move from workers comp fraud fake injuries.
They Move Fine When They Think You’re Not Looking
Big dramatic limp in the office. Walking normally in the parking lot. Can’t sit at their desk. Bending fine at the grocery store.
Co-workers notice the inconsistency. That’s usually how workers comp fraud fake injuries gets caught first.
This Isn’t Their First Claim
Third workers’ comp claim in three years. Or they filed claims at previous jobs. Pattern of workers comp fraud fake injuries across multiple employers.
The Medical Stuff Doesn’t Match
Doctor’s notes don’t line up with what they’re claiming. Recovery timeline is weirdly long. Symptoms don’t match typical injury patterns.
They Fight Returning to Work
You offer light duty? They refuse. Modified schedule? Not interested. Any attempt to get them back working is met with new complaints in their workers comp fraud fake injuries claim.
How the Fraud Actually Works
Here are the common schemes:
The complete fake: Never injured. Made up an accident. Got a doctor’s note based on lies. Pure workers comp fraud fake injuries from the start.
The exaggerator: Small real injury. Minor back strain. But they claim it’s debilitating. Can’t work at all. Workers comp fraud fake injuries that takes something minor and inflates it.
The healed but hiding it: Actually hurt initially. Healed weeks ago. Keep claiming disability because the money’s good. Workers comp fraud fake injuries that starts real then becomes fraud.
The side job scheme: Collecting disability while working another job for cash. Roofing, construction, landscaping—physical work they claim they can’t do. Classic workers comp fraud fake injuries.
The vacation fraud: Using disability as paid vacation. Traveling, doing home projects, enjoying hobbies, living life fully while collecting checks.
Real Case: We Caught Him Roofing
Construction worker claimed severe back injury. Said he couldn’t walk without excruciating pain. Total disability. Wanted $3,000 monthly for 18+ months.
Medical documentation looked solid. MRI showed herniated disc. Doctor’s notes about pain. Physical therapy reports.
But the owner was suspicious. Timing right after he got passed over for promotion. Missing therapy appointments. Co-worker saw him loading tools moving just fine.
Owner hired us to investigate the workers comp fraud fake injuries.
Two weeks of surveillance:
Day 3: Grocery store, carrying heavy bags, no pain. Moving normally. Clear difference from his “disabled” act.
Day 5: Worked a full roofing job. Climbed ladders 25+ times. Carried shingles. Bent, kneeled, worked 8 hours on a roof. Absolute proof of workers comp fraud fake injuries on video.
Day 10: Worked three more roofing jobs that week. Zero disability. Full range of motion. No pain behaviors.
Day 12: Went to doctor appointment. Used cane walking in. Limped dramatically. Told doctor still in “severe pain, can’t work.” Drove straight to another roofing job. Worked four hours.
We caught the transformation from “disabled patient” to “capable worker” in 15 minutes. Workers comp fraud fake injuries documented completely.
The outcome:
Confronted with video, he admitted everything. Workers comp fraud fake injuries from start. Back healed fast, but he kept claiming disability while working side jobs.
Criminal charges. Repay $18,000. Fired. 5 years probation.
Company saved over $200,000 by catching workers comp fraud fake injuries early.
Check out our workers compensation investigation services for how we document these cases.
How We Catch Them
When you hire us to investigate workers comp fraud fake injuries:
Surveillance: We follow them. Document their activities on video. Show them doing things they claim they can’t do. We’ve caught people lifting heavy objects, playing sports, working other jobs, hiking, doing home projects—all while claiming total disability from workers comp fraud fake injuries.
Social media investigation: People post themselves doing stuff they claim they can’t do. They document their own workers comp fraud fake injuries for us.
Financial investigation: Check for unreported income. Other jobs. Side businesses. Evidence they’re working while claiming disability.
Medical analysis: Work with experts to review records. Compare claimed symptoms to typical patterns. Identify inconsistencies indicating workers comp fraud fake injuries.
Witness interviews: Talk to neighbors, friends, co-workers who’ve seen them do activities contradicting their claims.
What You Should Do Right Now
If you suspect workers comp fraud fake injuries:
Document everything. Keep records of inconsistencies. When their story changes. Any evidence of activities contradicting their claims.
Don’t confront them yet. Accusations without proof make it worse. They’ll just hide the fraud better. Get evidence first.
Tell your insurance company. They may have fraud investigators. Share your suspicions about workers comp fraud fake injuries.
Hire professional surveillance. We get video evidence. Admissible in court. Documented properly to prove workers comp fraud fake injuries.
Work with your attorney. Get legal guidance on handling suspected fraud without violating their rights.
Keep processing the claim normally. Don’t deny based on suspicion. Follow proper procedures while investigating.
According to the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, professional investigation is essential because claimants’ attorneys will attack improper evidence of workers comp fraud fake injuries.
What Happens When We Catch Them
Criminal charges: Felony in Texas. Fines up to $10,000. Prison up to 10 years depending on amount.
Repayment: They repay everything collected through workers comp fraud fake injuries. Plus legal fees and investigation costs.
Fired: Obviously. And good luck getting hired elsewhere with a fraud conviction.
No future benefits: Claim denied. Future legitimate injuries might not be covered because of fraud history.
Civil penalties: You can sue for additional damages beyond criminal restitution.
Permanent record: Felony conviction destroys their future employment, housing, everything.
The Math: Investigation Cost vs. Fraud Cost
Investigation cost: $5,000-$15,000 to document workers comp fraud fake injuries.
Fraudulent claim cost:
- Monthly disability: $2,000-$5,000+
- Duration: 12-24+ months
- Medical expenses: $20,000-$100,000+
- Insurance premium increases
- Legal fees
Total fraud cost: $50,000-$200,000+ per case of workers comp fraud fake injuries.
Example: Investigation costs $10,000. Saves you $150,000. That’s 1,400% ROI.
Plus when employees see fraud gets caught, workers comp fraud fake injuries decreases across your whole workforce.
You’re Not Wrong to Be Suspicious
I know you’re worried about being “that boss” who doesn’t trust injured employees. You don’t want to seem heartless.
But here’s reality: workers comp fraud fake injuries costs your business serious money. Increases premiums for everyone. It’s unfair to legitimately injured employees. It’s unfair to you.
If something feels off, it probably is.
The employee moving normally when they think you’re not watching? Not coincidence.
The convenient timing? Not random.
The social media showing activities they claim they can’t do? That’s evidence.
You’re not being paranoid. You’re being observant. Trust those instincts.
We Can Help
At Terrance Private Investigator & Associates we’ve documented hundreds of cases of workers comp fraud fake injuries. We know what to look for. We get video evidence that holds up in court.
If you suspect an employee is faking, we’ll find out. We’ll document it. We’ll help you stop the fraud before it costs hundreds of thousands.
Call Now: 832-404-3400
Email: getanswers@piterrance.com
Visit: www.piterrance.com
Professional surveillance. Court-admissible evidence. Results that save money.
Because workers comp fraud fake injuries is expensive—but catching it pays for itself many times over.
Don’t let fraudulent claims drain your business.
