Try to be available when they call or return calls quickly.Īuthorize enough film to defend your caseīottom line is that an investigator is aware of the amount of time you have authorized and they will try to allocate the time wisely, but there are periods when a subject will become active when the allocated time is almost out.
Keep in contact with the investigator and update them with any new information when you receive it. Coming to an understanding now will eliminate problems down the road. Set up some ground rules about the amount of time authorized and how a request for additional time is handled. Set aside time at the beginning of the assignment to talk with the investigator and go over the case information. The more information you provide, the better our chances to identify and film the right person. Take the extra step to verify descriptions and ask your insured for up to date photos or films of the claimant. Give your investigator accurate information. We did eventually re-establish the surveillance and obtained some good film, but valuable time and money were wasted. The subject’s hair color was different and longer, he gained weight and had grown a beard. We found out later that the information was five years old. At least, the man in the picture did not arrive.Īctually, the man was on the bus but he didn’t fit the description and picture. We established the surveillance but the man was not on the bus. We reviewed the physical description and injury information with the client they even provided a picture. Our firm was asked to do surveillance on a man who was arriving at a downtown bus station. You would not hesitate to question your attorney on a legal point or a doctor on a diagnosis, so don’t hesitate to ask the investigator what they think and make your decision based on their advice. When you hire any vendor on your file you are hiring their expertise. Once a reasonable suspicion has been established, talk to your investigator as soon as possible and plan a course of action together. Only employ Sub Rosa when you have a reasonable suspicion of fraud.Ī great way to botch an investigation is to wait too long to act.
Using surveillance arbitrarily is unlawful. Recording your suspicions will help you to identify the fraud and work out a course of action. Once you have identified a possible fraud, document it in your file. Of course, not every situation is covered here, but if you employ these five steps, you are more likely to have a successful outcome.
I’ve outlined a few tips to help get your Sub Rosa investigation going in the right direction.
Keep in mind a Sub Rosa investigation involves many moving parts and unless you work with someone who is well trained, knowledgeable, experienced and a trusted professional you could end up with unusable video and a blown opportunity. Be sure to have a clear understanding of what you want to achieve as well as what is possible within the law. But if you have strong evidence that fraud is likely, then you should commit the resources to establish a defense. However, some adjusters are very hesitant to request a surveillance especially if they have not had success in the past with obtaining film. It is the claims professional’s responsibility, after much evaluation, to initiate the Sub Rosa investigation. What is more damaging than someone caught on film cutting and stacking wood when hours earlier he was barely able to hobble into a doctor’s office? Film that catches a subject in unguarded moments will document the claimant’s true physical limitations and the confirmation of a fraud. The use of Sub Rosa is one of the most powerful tools a claims professional has to document evidence. The image of a rose was often carved on confessionals, indicating that the act of confession between the priest and confessed would remain a secret.įast forward to today and the word Sub Rosa is used to describe surveillance or the secret act of watching a person or group. We also see the rose in early Christian symbolism. In fact, in ancient Rome roses were hung from the ceiling of the great council chamber to pledge the assembly to secrecy. The rose, a beautiful flower used to express love, is also the symbol of secrecy. Sub Rosa is a Latin term meaning “under the rose”. Sub Rosa is a term we use so often in the Workers’ Compensation community that it is surprising how many do not know the original meaning.