State and county officials warn of insurance fraud, announce enforcement strike team

California insurance enforcement officials and the Los Angeles County District Attorney said they have created a dedicated strike team to pursue insurance fraud tied to the recent wildfires and urged residents to carefully document damage.

At a press event, an enforcement official said: "Today, we made an important announcement, creating a strike team between LA County District Attorney's Office and Department of Insurance enforcement branch. Unfortunately, what we see after all these devastating fires is, prevalence of fraud." The official said departments would "remove all the red tape" to protect consumers in real time.

The enforcement office advised residents to document and organize their claims: "Take photos or videos of property damage. There's nothing like pictures to get proof of what the damage looks like so there is no no question from your adjuster or your insurance company. Create a dedicated email for communication with your insurance company," the official said.

Officials warned that those who commit fraud will face criminal penalties, and that prosecutors will pursue cases aggressively. "To those who are thinking of any type of insurance fraud in connection with these wildfires, you will be punished to the maximum extent of the law," a prosecuting official said. The enforcement representative said their team has previously recovered more than $474,000,000 for consumers after prior wildfire disasters.

Reporting and contact information: officials repeated a consumer reporting line and a web resource for suspected fraud and consumer assistance; the transcript listed a phone number and directed residents to insurance.ca.gov.

Ending: Officials said swift enforcement and clear documentation by homeowners are the best defenses against post-disaster fraud and urged residents to report concerns promptly.