By Dominic Dugo, Vice President – Fraud Investigations – the Delta Group and Chief Deputy, San Diego County District Attorney’s Office (retired) and Jay Bobrowsky, Senior Vice President, Special Investigations (SIU) – California State Compensation Insurance Fund
Originally published in IASIU's SIU Today Summer 2026 Newsletter
Workers’ compensation fraud continues to evolve in complexity, scope, and impact across the insurance industry. As the over $34 Billion a year of fraud schemes become more adaptive and technologically sophisticated, the need for specialized training and collaborative investigative strategies becomes ever more essential. In response to this increasing demand, in 2026, the IASIU Workers’ Compensation Education Council has stepped forward as a dedicated and dynamic resource for investigators, leaders, and organizations committed to combating workers’ compensation fraud.
Formed to address a growing need for focused education within the Workers’ Compensation sector, the Council serves as a specialized group within the International Association of Special Investigation Units (IASIU). Its purpose is clear: to develop, deliver, and expand targeted training that equips SIU professionals with the tools required to identify, analyze, and mitigate fraudulent activity in the Workers’ Compensation system.
A MISSION ROOTED IN EDUCATION, COLLABORATION, AND IMPACT
The Workers’ Compensation Education Council was created with a specific focus on enhancing investigative capabilities in the workers’ compensation arena. While IASIU has long been recognized as a leader in providing education and resources to combat insurance fraud, the need for deeper specialization has become increasingly apparent. Workers’ compensation fraud presents unique challenges—ranging from provider schemes and premium fraud to staged claims and exaggerated injuries—making specialized education critical for today’s SIU professionals. The Council’s mission centers around three core goals:
- Provide focused, relevant training designed to meet the evolving needs of investigators who handle workers’ compensation claims.
- Strengthen collaboration among carriers, investigators, regulators, and industry experts to share emerging trends, fraud indicators, and best practices.
- Develop practical tools and resources that can be applied in real world investigative environments.
MONTHLY MEETINGS AND EXPERT LED EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS
One of the hallmarks of the Council’s work is its consistent schedule of monthly educational meetings, which are held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 2 pm Eastern Time. These meeting started in February 2026, and continuing throughout the year— offer SIU professionals an opportunity to hear from distinguished industry experts, exchange insights with peers, and remain up to date on rising schemes and investigative methods. Each session features a guest presenter who brings specialized expertise to the group. Topics often include:
- Provider fraud trends and red flag indicators
- Claimant fraud types and investigation strategies
- Emerging provider and medical billing schemes
- Premium fraud detection and compliance considerations
- Multi- jurisdictional trends in workers’ compensation enforcement
- Technology’s increasing role in identifying fraud patterns
These meetings ensure that participants not only receive high quality information, but also have the chance to engage in discussions, ask questions, and build collaborative connections across organizations.
Here’s a link to the Workers’ Compensation Educational Council registration and directory form.
DEVELOPMENT OF WORKING GROUPS: A TARGETED APPROACH TO FRAUD TYPES
Recognizing that workers’ compensation fraud spans distinct categories, the Council established specialized working groups aligned with the most prevalent fraud types:
- Provider Fraud Team – focused on organized medical, billing, and treatment related schemes
- Claimant Fraud Team – addressing false or exaggerated injury claims
- Premium Fraud Team – confronting employer misclassification, underreporting, and false payroll practices
These groups are tasked to explore the top fraud indicators, share investigative successes, analyze case studies, and create practical tools—such as checklists, guidance materials, and investigative best practice documents—that SIU professionals can use in daily operations. This working group model ensures that content developed by the Council is meaningful, actionable, and aligned with the needs of the SIU community.
INTEGRATION WITH BROADER IASIU EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
The Workers’ Compensation Education Council plays an important role within the larger ecosystem of IASIU educational offerings. As part of IASIU’s commitment to advancing investigative excellence, the Council contributes and is supported by—a range of professional development resources, including:
- IASIU Webinars: providing timely, topic specific training sessions for members across the country
- SIU Today Magazine: highlighting current trends, investigative strategies, and Council initiatives IASIU Annual Training Conference: offering multiday in person training featuring workshops, panel discussions, and networking
- Online Training Modules and Resource Libraries: giving investigators access to specialized content year round
The Council enhances these resources by supplying workers’ compensation specific insights, helping ensure the industry’s training landscape remains relevant and forward-looking.
EXPANDING EDUCATIONAL FOOTPRINT: CONFERENCE PROGRAMMING AND FUTURE PROJECTS
In addition to its monthly meetings and working group initiatives, the Workers’ Compensation Education Council is playing an increasingly prominent role in shaping in person training experiences at IASIU events.
Plans for the IASIU Annual Training Conference include the introduction of a dedicated block of workers’ compensation training, three to four hours focused solely on fraud within the workers’ compensation system. These sessions will feature expert speakers, case study analyses, regulatory updates, and interactive discussions designed to reinforce learning and enhance investigative confidence. Looking ahead, the Council also anticipates developing additional projects aimed at providing members with expanded learning opportunities. These may include:
- Worker compensation focused white papers
- Investigation checklists and resource guides
- Caselaw trend summaries
- Template interview questions for claimant and provider investigations
- Collaborative research efforts across carriers
The Council’s future initiatives will continue to support IASIU’s goal of offering industry leading education that adapts to emerging fraud patterns.
A RESOURCE FOR TODAY’S SIU PROFESSIONALS
The work of the IASIU Workers’ Compensation Education Council directly benefits a wide range of professionals within the insurance and investigative sectors. Its resources and initiatives are designed for:
- Insurance fraud investigators seeking deeper expertise in workers’ compensation fraud
- SIU leaders and analysts responsible for evaluating trends and shaping investigative strategy
- Claims examiners and adjusters who need to recognize red flag indicators early in the claim cycle
- Regulators, law enforcement partners, and attorneys engaged in Anti-Fraud efforts
- Industry stakeholders and organizational leaders who want to enhance fraud prevention frameworks and stay informed about emerging challenges
By cultivating collaboration and offering highly relevant training, the Council ensures that SIU professionals at all levels are better equipped to recognize, investigate, and prevent fraudulent activities that harm both policyholders and the workers’ compensation system.
SUPPORTING AN INDUSTRYWIDE COMMITMENT TO FIGHTING FRAUD
At its core, the IASIU Workers’ Compensation Education Council represents the industry’s shared commitment to fight fraud through knowledge, innovation, and partnership. Its work strengthens the integrity of the workers’ compensation system and supports a safer, more stable environment for employers, injured workers, insurers, and investigators alike.
As fraud trends continue to shift and new challenges emerge, the Council will remain at the forefront of research, training, and collaborative engagement—empowering SIU professionals with the high-quality education and resources they need to protect the workers’ compensation system and uphold the
highest standards of investigative excellence.
Note: Authors used AI to assist with this article.
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