Community Insurance Fraud Initiatives

In September 2003, the tragic death of a Lawrence grandmother in a staged car accident led to the creation of the first Community Insurance Fraud Initiative (CIFI), which has since helped reduce fraudulent auto insurance claims and premiums across Massachusetts.


In September 2003, a 65-year-old Lawrence, Massachusetts grandmother died in a motor vehicle accident. It was soon revealed that the accident had been staged in order for the occupants in the two vehicles involved in the crash to fake injuries and collect for pain and suffering. This tragic event spurred the formation of the first Community Insurance Fraud Initiative (CIFI) in October 2003 in the City of Lawrence. That first CIFI, the sole purpose of which was to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of staged automobile accidents, continues to make inroads toward reducing the number of fraudulent accidents and resulting claims reported in Lawrence saving auto insurance premiums for its residents.

Since 2004, thirteen additional CIFIs have been created throughout Massachusetts. Each CIFI is comprised of representatives from the Insurance Fraud Bureau, local police departments and prosecutors from county district attorney’s offices. CIFI efforts are also supported by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office and auto insurance companies across the state. This effort has had a major impact in reducing fraud in auto insurance and has been a major factor in reducing premiums across the Commonwealth.

  • The Boston CIFI investigates suspected automobile insurance fraud in Boston, East Boston, Dorchester, Roxbury, Mattapan, Jamaica Plain, and Hyde Park.

    08-15-2024

    A Charlestown man pleaded guilty to motor vehicle insurance fraud and received six months of a suspended sentence to the House of Corrections and one year of probation. The Charlestown man reported that on April 01, 2021 his 2013 Honda Accord was stolen from outside of his apartment. He stated that the Honda was taken in early May, as he had last driven it around May 4th or 5th, and then had parked it outside his apartment. Investigation found that two claims were reported to Plymouth Rock Assurance Corporation by adverse operators (one on May 20, 2021 and the other on June 04, 2021) involving the Honda. The two drivers involved in the auto accidents on May 20, 2021 and June 04, 2021 respectively, took down the Charlestown man’s information after their accidents, and took photographs of the Honda and the Charlestown man’s license. The Honda, after having been involved in these two accidents, was dropped off and subsequently towed for trespassing on June 16, 2021, with significant damage. Further investigation revealed that the Honda was never stolen, the Charlestown man was observed driving it as well as being in two accidents with it, after he reported it stolen. Photographic arrays identified the Charlestown man as being involved in both accidents. The Charlestown man stated that he had not been in any accidents with the Honda for six to eight months. He also stated that the Honda was currently found and impounded.

  • 11-05-2024

    Complaints were issued against a Carver man on charges of motor vehicle insurance fraud, attempt to commit a crime, and false report of a crime. The Carver man is alleged to have reported to Plymouth Rock Assurance Corporation that on March 29, 2023 his 2011 GMC Sierra K2500 was hit while parked causing damage to the driver side. The Carver man reported the hit-and-run to police. A vehicle damage analysis concluded that there was front to rear contact with a low-profile object or latex painted structure. There was no evidence to support the GMC was struck by another vehicle while parked. The Carver man denied that there was any prior damage to the Sierra.

  • 12-04-2024

    A Revere man was placed on general continuance for one year on charges of motor vehicle insurance fraud and attempt to commit a crime. He was ordered to pay $300 in court costs. The Revere man reported to Liberty Mutual Insurance Company that on May 24, 2021 he discovered damage to his 2016 Infinity Q50 right front fender area of the vehicle. He stated that he parked the Infinity on May 23, 2021 and when he went back to the vehicle the following day, he discovered the damage. He had another collision claim with a loss date of April 13, 2021. A picture of the damage from the April 13, 2021 loss was identical to the damage being claimed in the May 24, 2021 accident. Investigation revealed that on April 13, 2021 the Revere man was driving the Infinity when he struck a parked vehicle.

  • 03-26-2024

    An Attleboro woman admitted to sufficient facts on charges of filing a fraudulent insurance claim, larceny over $1200, and conspiracy. The case was continued without a finding for one year. The Attleboro woman was ordered to pay $3,086 in restitution and a $90 victim witness fee. The Attleboro woman reported to Liberty Mutual Insurance Company that on December 28, 2021, the residence she occupied with her boyfriend was burglarized and her valuable items were stolen. The Attleboro woman submitted a photo of the damaged apartment door and a police report to Liberty Mutual Insurance Company in support of the claim. Investigation revealed that the police report submitted in this claim was fraudulent. The Attleboro woman never resided at the address she listed in the claim. It was also confirmed that the receipts submitted in support of the claim as well as the photo of the damaged apartment door, were falsified and originated from various websites found on the internet.

  • 01-09-2025

    The case against an Everett man was continued without a finding for one year on a charge of motor vehicle insurance fraud. He was ordered to pay $600 in restitution. The Everett man reported to Mapfre Insurance Company that on October 15, 2020 his 2013 Toyota RAV4 was rear-ended by another vehicle. The Everett man stated that he was injured from the accident and indicated that his passenger was also injured and that he does not drive for any rideshare companies such as Uber or Lyft. Investigation revealed that the Everett man was driving for Uber at the time of the accident. The Everett man applied for his automobile policy on July 24, 2020, but did not seek ride-share employment coverage for his vehicle, as noted in his application questionnaire and application. Consistent with his lack of ride-share coverage, the Everett man misrepresented that he was not under an Uber contract and that he did not have an Uber fare in the vehicle during the accident in question. Uber documentation revealed that the Everett man had been active with Uber since March 02, 2017. The Everett man, therefore, misrepresented his ride-share status in his application for insurance. Additionally, the Everett man misrepresented his active ride-share contract by denying to Mapre Insurance claims representatives that he was under an Uber contract and that he had a ride-share fare at the time of loss.

  • 11-08-2024

    A Lynn woman was placed on general continuance for one year on charges of filing a fraudulent insurance claim, false report of a crime, and larceny over $1200. She was ordered to pay $228 in restitution. The Lynn woman reported to Liberty Mutual Insurance Company that on October 13, 2021 her Christian Dior tote bag was stolen from her 2013 Toyota Camry. She stated that she was unloading groceries from her vehicle and when she returned to the vehicle the Christian Dior tote bag was stolen. The Lynn woman submitted a receipt as part of the claim containing the subtotal for purchasing a Christian Dior tote bag and a Christian Dior belt for $850.00 made at a Christian Dior Store on September 28, 2021. Investigation confirmed that the Lynn woman’s boyfriend bought the Christian Dior tote bag for $3,100.00 cash before September 28, 2021. Further investigation revealed the Lynn woman returned the Christen Dior tote bag on September 28, 2021, for a credit of $3,100.00. The Lynn woman then bought a Christian Dior belt for $850.00 leaving the remaining balance due to the Lynn woman for $2,250.00. The $2,250 balance was later sent by check to the Lynn woman’s home address.

  • 12-06-2024

    A complaint was issued against a Foxboro man on a charge of motor vehicle insurance fraud. The Foxboro man is alleged to have reported to Liberty Mutual Insurance Company that his 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300 was hit while parked on March 10, 2022 causing damage to the front. The loss occurred at a shopping plaza. Investigation revealed that the damage was caused due to the "depth of intrusion not consistent with hwp." A physical damage analysis concluded that the damage to the Mercedes occurred while the vehicle was being driven and collided with another vehicle. The Foxboro man denied causing the damage to the Mercedes. He stated that even if he did do the damage, the insurance company should have paid for it because he had insurance.

  • 11-27-2024

    A Chicopee man admitted to sufficient facts and the case was continued without a finding for six months on a charge of attempt to commit a crime. On April 8, 2022, the Chicopee man reported to Liberty Mutual Insurance Company that his 2009 Nissan Maxima was hit while parked overnight. The Chicopee man stated he parked the Nissan at approximately 2 A.M. and found the damage to the vehicle later that morning. He stated that he reported the damage to local police. A forensic examination concluded that none of the damage was consistent with a hit while parked occurrence. The damage most likely occurred when the Nissan struck a guardrail, spun, and then collided with the guardrail a second time.

    11-05-2024

    Complaints were issued against a Springfield man on charges of motor vehicle insurance fraud and attempt to commit a crime. The Springfield man is alleged to have reported to Progressive Insurance Company that his 2018 Honda Civic was hit by an unknown vehicle that fled the scene on September 22, 2021. The Springfield man reported that he was driving his Civic when the front passenger fender was struck by an oncoming BMW traveling on the wrong side of the road. The BMW allegedly then struck a parked Honda CRV and fled the scene. A forensic vehicle examination determined that the Civic was in motion at the time of the collision, however it was Springfield man’s Civic that hit and damaged the parked CRV. The Event Data Recorder (EDR) data showed the Civic made a continuous turn to the right and then a quick turn back to the left at impact. The Springfield man maintained that an unknown BMW hit his Civic and fled the scene. The Springfield man denied driving the Civic, at the time of the accident.

  • 10-17-2024

    Complaints were issued against a Gardner woman and a Gardner man on charges of motor vehicle insurance fraud and attempt to commit a crime. The Gardner woman is alleged to have reported that her 2017 Toyota Rav 4 was stolen and later found vandalized. The Gardner woman reported that she was driving off road with the Gardner man, when the Toyota broke down. Police recovered the stolen Toyota and found that it had been dragged further down the trail from where it was reported parked. A forensic analysis determined there was evidence of water ingestion in the Toyota’s air intake, resulting in a seized engine. No damage was found to the Toyota’s ignition system. Further investigation revealed the Toyota was not a functioning automobile when it was reported stolen. The Gardner woman allegedly stated that she never went off-roading in the Toyota. The Gardner man denied that the Toyota was driven in a mudhole. The Gardner woman later admitted that the Toyota became inoperable after being driven through a large puddle.