Employers

Approximately 328,500 insurance investigators, claims adjusters, and examiners are employed in the United States. They work for insurance companies, investigation firms, and government insurance fraud agencies. Opportunities are available throughout the country, but are best in large cities.

Starting Out

Many people break into this career after first working in law enforcement, the fire service, or private investigation. For example, The Travelers Indemnity Company reports that 75 percent of its fraud investigative unit members have law enforcement training. Other investigators started out in entry-level positions (claims adjusters or examiners) in the insurance industry. Claims adjusters and examiners who show promise at identifying potential fraud might be asked to join an insurance company’s insurance fraud investigative unit.

Some people break into the field after participating in an internship at an insurance company. Contact the special investigative units of major insurance companies to inquire about formal internship programs. Your college’s career service office may also be able to steer you toward internship opportunities at insurance companies.

The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners offers Community (http://connect.acfe.com), a members-only social network that provides industry information and networking opportunities.

An experienced insurance fraud investigator can advance to work on more complex fraud examinations and/or supervise a team of fraud examiners. Some become managers of special investigation units at an insurance company or government fraud prevention bureau.

Read the Insurance Fraud Handbook, http://www.acfe.com/uploadedfiles/acfe_website/content/documents/insurance-fraud-handbook.pdf, to learn more about the types of fraud and the work of investigators.

Visit the following Web sites for job listings:

• https://www.acfe.com/career-center-main.aspx
• http://www.indeed.com/q-Insurance-Fraud-Investigator-jobs.html
• https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/insurance-fraud-investigator-jobs
• https://www.rims.org/resources/career-center

Read Fraud Magazine (http://www.fraud-magazine.com/fm-home.aspx), SIU Today (https://www.iasiu.org/default.aspx?page_id=218), and Claims Journal (http://www.claimsjournal.com) to learn more about the field.

Attend the International Association of Special Investigation Units’ Annual Seminar & Expo on Insurance Fraud to network and participate in continuing education classes.

Visit the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners’ Career Center: Just Starting Out Web page, http://www.acfe.com/starting-out-main.aspx, to learn more about breaking into the field.