Piggybacking, A Fraudulent Tail (and Tale) in Workers' Comp 🐷💼

 

Oh, darlings, do pull up a chair because Miss Piggy has a scandal to unravel that’s juicier than a gossip column and dirtier than a pigsty. It’s the sordid tale of piggybacking, a fraudulent scheme in workers’ compensation that’s turning the staffing industry into a circus of greed and deceit. And let me tell you, the stars of this show aren’t just shady; they’re downright villainous.

Now, for the uninitiated, piggybacking isn’t some cute term for teamwork. No, no, it’s when a staffing agency skips out on buying its own workers' comp insurance and instead borrows another company’s policy like a bad houseguest who never leaves. These fraudsters, the so called Piggybackers, parade their fake certificates of insurance (oh, the audacity! 🐽) while unsuspecting workers and businesses are left footing the bill when things go south.

Take Mike Ersling, for instance, a name that deserves its own place in the fraud hall of fame. This porky perpetrator shoved $300 million of payroll onto the policy of an inexperienced agency and then passed off fraudulent claims through The Fresno Fraud Family. Yes, darlings, the Walstad brothers, because every good scandal needs a family dynasty of disaster. They’ve been rooting around the system for decades, leaving unpaid claims and shattered businesses in their wake.

And don’t think I’ve forgotten about Alex Campos of Vensure HR, lurking like a cartoon villain. With a smirk and a plan, he lets these schemes thrive while plotting to buy up the remains of struggling businesses “for a song.” His confidence is as nauseating as his business practices.

Meanwhile, workers go without benefits, businesses get slapped with lawsuits, and taxpayers; oh, you poor dears, end up paying for this mess. The regulators, bless their little hearts, can’t seem to get their acts together, passing responsibility around like a hot potato. The Department of Insurance, the WCIRB, the Labor Board, it’s a game of “Not My Job” while fraudsters laugh all the way to the bank.

Here’s the tea: Piggybacking doesn’t just hurt the staffing industry; it hurts everyone. And yet, it persists because greed, darling, is a powerful motivator. Until businesses stop accepting shady certs and regulators grow a backbone, these schemes will keep thriving. But don’t worry; Miss Piggy will be here, pen at the ready, calling out the culprits one oink at a time. 🐽✨

#WorkersCompensation 🐖 #FraudAlert 🚨 #PiggybackingScam 💼 #StaffingIndustry 🛠️ #WorkersRights