Workers Comp fraud is a growing problem for everybody

Every day in America hundreds of workers are hurt on the job they're victims of car crashes slip and fall mishaps and horrific industrial accidents. But according to experts there's a good chance some of them are faking. And is causing all of us a bundle. Tonight reporter Mark Douglas says what one investigator calls some of the world's dumbest insurance chiefs.

We're guessing this isn't her first time at the rodeo but it was the first time someone in the crowd was an insurance fraud investigator working for Paul -- bear most the time it's just a little white lies where people man. Exaggerated entering. In this case col Baer says the woman claimed her work related neck and shoulder injury was so severe and painful she couldn't do our job. Which had nothing to do with the barrel racing and then there's the woman with the work related leg injury. One of his investigators caught her on tape. Battling her boyfriend and see it.

That point. Was aggressive enough to take her leg brace off in an attempt to access to hit individual her boyfriend what do you make race. Local -- says he has investigators in fourteen states sending in as many as 100 tapes a week. For insurance carriers and employers who suspected some of the workers are faking injuries to collect workers' comp claims. And they get some of them with hidden cameras like this made to look like a car keys when in fact. It's really part of the gotcha game it's a criminal -- and it doesn't hey it's alive and.

Workers' comp fraud is also big business for col -- This company the meridian Investigative Group candles 18100 cases a year col -- says his workers' comp fraud business was up 50% last year. The state of Florida also -- a big spike in workers' compensation insurance fraud last year. Mostly due to employers who lie about having mandatory coverage and pass off other policies as the Rome. But worker fraud is still the number one problem. Six years ago can -- so broke his arm when the cement truck he was riding in rolled over in Saint Petersburg.

it's got down to query which apparently the court.

The injury was real but a jury later convicted -- for lying about two prior accidents ten years before the truck crash. -- is now serving a fourteen month jail sentence while appealing his conviction. He swears he was doped up on payments when lawyers asked about the prior accidents and wasn't trying to fool anyone.

I can't remember last week -- last ten years ago. I don't think the average person we've prevented patent that could -- that you're.

According to the nonprofit group coalition against insurance fraud. Workers' comp fraud amounts to billions of dollars every year spokesman James squiggles says we all pay that bill in the end.

Those costs get passed on to all of us in higher prices that department stores grocery stores and other businesses. That's a lot of money that we end up paying it and very down economy.

Meanwhile Paul -- bearer advises if you're dumb enough to fake a job related ankle injury it's probably not a good idea the push start your truck. In a good job accident blind did you a white came in dark glasses may be just what the doctor ordered but driving a golf cart. Not so much guys away and missed every single vehicle on the way out so apparently. He wasn't quite as -- as we thought it was. Go verses is most memorable worker's -- figure happened to be -- Tampa Bay Area politician but that's a story he's not ready to share. I'm Mark Douglas Schoen --

According to a survey by the insurance reserves council about a third of the workers said it is almost always acceptable to stay off the job after a work related injury. Even when doctors say is okay to return of one out of five workers said they were aware of workers' comp fraud schemes of their job place.