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Staff ReportsJanuary 31, 2017

The Western Union Co. will pay $5 million and provide consumer warnings to resolve a multistate investigation into complaints that con artists used its money-transfer services to facilitate fraud. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the settlement Tuesday with 49 states, including Florida, and the District of Columbia. The money will cover investigation costs. In addition, […]

Peter SchorschDecember 21, 2016

Tip o’ the hat to the Times’ Susan Taylor Martin for covering a blistering audit of the Florida Housing Finance Corp. (FHFC), which is supposed to be the steward of both state and federal affordable housing money. But let’s also give some credit where it’s due: In a series of three articles called “Who watches the […]

Associated PressDecember 20, 2016

A story claiming Florida is set to recount votes in the presidential election because of fraud is untrue. The story posted on bipartisanreport.com on Dec. 6 was headlined: “Florida Moves For FULL RECOUNT Of State Over Massive Voter Fraud.” It received more than 73,000 likes, comments or shares on Facebook before it was removed from […]

Staff ReportsDecember 14, 2016

State Sen. Jeff Brandes wants to sound the death knell for Florida’s no-fault auto insurance system. The St. Petersburg Republican on Tuesday filed a repeal (SB 156) of the personal injury protection, or PIP, requirements under Florida law for motor vehicle insurance. “PIP is a broken insurance system, and it does not reflect the reality […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 27, 2016

Rep. Corrine Brown, facing a federal trial on 23 counts related to fraud and tax evasion, seeks to have her trial pushed back to October. The filing in federal court Wednesday from attorney Bill Sheppard cites “77,000 pages of discovery that undersigned counsel is doing his best to review and digest.” Prosecution does not oppose the motion, […]

Associated PressMarch 5, 2016

The head of a purported charity with close ties to Florida U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown pleaded guilty Friday in a federal fraud investigation. One Door for Education Foundation Inc. President Carla Wiley pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and agreed to testify in the larger ongoing case, according to a […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 14, 2016

Consumer advocates are calling on state lawmakers to tweak proposed legislation that removes the state’s pre-insurance inspection requirement. The provision is in two bills (SB 1036/HB 659) relating to automobile insurance. Among other things, the measure allows an insurer to opt out of the pre-insurance inspection program and create its own pre-insurance program if it […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 8, 2016

The New Year brings with it opportunity to reflect on 2015 and use it as a foundation to set a strong course for the year ahead. The Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) is the primary regulator of Florida’s financial services industry, covering securities and consumer finance as well as state-chartered banks and credit unions. As […]

Phil AmmannJanuary 7, 2016

The New Year brings with it opportunity to reflect on 2015 and use it as a foundation to set a strong course for the year ahead. The Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) is the primary regulator of Florida’s financial services industry, covering securities and consumer finance as well as state-chartered banks and credit unions. As […]

Jim RosicaDecember 29, 2015

As if we didn’t have enough grifts to be on guard for, now the scammers are using phony “tech support” calls, according to a Tuesday consumer alert from the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. The con goes like this, according to OFR spokeswoman Jamie Mongiovi: The mark gets a call from someone “posing as technical support staff […]

Tag: fraud
Sen Rick Scott in Sarasota. Photo by Jacob Ogles.

Western Union settles complaints that it facilitated fraud

We told you so: Audit blasts Florida Housing Finance Corp.

Fact check: Florida not recounting election votes

Jeff Brandes files PIP repeal for 2017

Corrine Brown wants trial pushed back to October

Charity with ties to congresswoman target of fraud case

Consumer advocates urge lawmakers to keep pre-insurance inspection requirement

Drew Breakspear: Fighting fraud and serving Floridians in 2015

Drew Breakspear: Fighting fraud and serving Floridians in 2015

State regulators warn of phony phone calls from “tech support”