Career Tips

A Day in the Life at NJM: Special Investigations Unit

According to the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, each year, U.S. property casualty insurance companies lose more than $45 billion to fraud. It is why insurers like NJM Insurance Group employ Special Investigations Units (SIU) to detect and investigate suspected insurance fraud and help determine whether a claim is legitimate.

NJM’s SIU works to protect policyholder assets and proactively prevents, detects, and fights fraud. Meet three of its staff.

Lori is an SIU Administrator and Vendor Coordinator with more than 18 years’ experience at NJM — nearly 16 of them in SIU. She oversees SIU’s team that is primarily responsible for investigating workers’ compensation and commercial lines claims and policies. Her team also investigates a wide variety of personal lines claims and policies that are referred to the SIU.

Jen is an SIU Business Process Analyst and has been with NJM since 2018. She managed property damage and bodily injury claims before moving to her current position in 2023.

Bob is an SIU Principal Investigator with nearly three decades’ experience fighting insurance fraud. He joined NJM in 2019, after serving 25 years as a detective in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, Insurance Fraud Unit.

They shared their experiences of working at NJM and on the SIU team.

What is a typical day like for you?

Jen: No day is ever the same! I’m usually juggling a variety of projects that vary in complexity and are designed to streamline processes and enhance departmental efficiencies.

Bob: At any given time, an SIU Investigator has multiple investigations opened in various stages of completion. My day may consist of conducting interviews with a policyholder, the police, a claimant, a witness, or body shop owner, or conducting database searches. All are necessary to write my report and complete an investigation.

Headshot of NJM employee, Jen, with quote: “The support and camaraderie I experienced in Claims and SIU have been instrumental in making this my favorite place to work.”

What training is required for your job?

Lori: SIU Investigators undergo nine hours of Anti–Fraud training annually. In addition, I have a Certified Insurance Fraud Investigator certification, which requires 60 hours of anti–fraud training over three years. I have also completed several insurance, claims, and management certification courses that have been instrumental in my career growth.

Jen: My claims experience, while on the pilot optimization team, required me to do analysis, testing, and collect feedback, which are essential in my current position. When I joined SIU, I focused on quickly learning its processes and procedures, which involved on–the–job training and relying on the expertise of experienced colleagues. This collaborative environment has been an important part of my development and effectiveness in the role.

Headshot of NJM employee, Lori, with quote: “Our investigations come from all NJM’s lines of business (LOB). Our job requires us to have a greater understanding of what the LOBs do and communicate with departmental contacts when necessary.”  

How has SIU changed since you first joined it?

Jen: I have been in SIU for nearly nine months. Our department, like NJM and much of the insurance industry, is evolving rapidly. We strive to stay ahead of fraud trends, while being strategic with department resources. This requires continuous process evaluation and adjustment.

Bob: In my nearly five years in SIU, I’ve noticed an analytics trend. Insurance fraud investigations often require our analysts to dive deeper into a subject’s background, such as their social media presence or policy and claims history.

Headshot of NJM employee, Bob, with quote: “No two investigations are alike. I never know what type of case I’ll get and where it will lead me, which keeps my job interesting.”  

What makes you want to come to work every day?

Lori: Pride in what I do. I’ve been fortunate to have several leadership opportunities made available to me, which led me to where I am. I’m thankful to the SIU senior leadership and NJM for providing me with those opportunities and I hope to help others progress in their careers as I continue to grow in mine.

Jen: I love the challenge of my work. Each day brings new problems to solve and opportunities to grow. The complexity and variety of projects challenges me. Working with such a supportive and knowledgeable team enhances the satisfaction I get after overcoming a challenge and we achieve our goals together.

Why should someone consider joining NJM and, more specifically, SIU?

Lori: You can start in one department, even at an entry–level position, and find opportunities to advance. So many resources exist for employees to continue their education through the Institutes or Management Development Programs. SIU is one of the best departments to work for in the company.

Bob: NJM’s SIU has a solid reputation within the insurance fraud industry. The company is an ideal place for anyone interested in a company and unit that is committed to fighting insurance fraud.

Are you considering a career move? Join us!

NJM Talent Acquisition Team
NJM Insurance Group
Careers@njm.com


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NJM is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to attracting, retaining and promoting an inclusive workforce that is fully representative of the diversity that exists in the communities in which we do business. Equal Employment Opportunity Notice.