{"id":20030,"date":"2024-05-14T14:08:08","date_gmt":"2024-05-14T18:08:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wfsu.org\/local-routes\/?post_type=wfsu-news&p=20030"},"modified":"2024-05-21T14:41:59","modified_gmt":"2024-05-21T18:41:59","slug":"cfo-jimmy-patronis-is-sending-a-team-of-insurance-fraud-investigators-to-leon-and-gadsden-counties","status":"publish","type":"wfsu-news","link":"https:\/\/wfsu.org\/local-routes\/wfsu-news\/cfo-jimmy-patronis-is-sending-a-team-of-insurance-fraud-investigators-to-leon-and-gadsden-counties\/","title":{"rendered":"CFO Jimmy Patronis is sending a team of insurance fraud investigators to Leon and Gadsden counties"},"content":{"rendered":"

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis<\/a> is activating a team of insurance fraud investigators.<\/p>\n

The Disaster Fraud Action Strike Team (DFAST) is heading to Leon and Gadsden counties after tornadoes<\/a> hit the area. Patronis announced Saturday<\/a> that the initiative will help protect storm victims from scammers.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust minutes after a storm, the bad actors and scam artists will swoop in and try to take advantage of people at their most vulnerable time,” Patronis said.<\/p>\n

The strike team will educate the public about the signs of possible fraud. It will also monitor contractors to ensure they follow Florida\u2019s workers\u2019 compensation law while conducting repairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnyone offering to provide you help for cash, please tell them no thank you,” said Patronis. “Any type of transaction of that nature, is not reimbursable by your insurance company.\u201d<\/p>\n

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CFO Patronis also urges residents across the Panhandle and Big Bend impacted by severe weather to contact the Division of Consumer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Common Indicators of Post-Storm Fraud include:<\/p>\n