TDI analysts work behind the scenes to stop insurance fraud

TDI Fraud Unit analysts Anita Todd and Vivian Cervantez play a key role in unraveling insurance scams across Texas. Their job is to follow the financial paper trail—claims, receipts, bank records, and personal information—to reveal the full scope of a fraud scheme, identify victims, and support investigators building criminal cases.

“Some people don’t even know they’ve been scammed until we contact them,” said Vivian, the financial analyst team lead.

TDI investigators gather statements, interview suspects and victims, and collect documents. They then bring that evidence to analysts like Anita and Vivian, who search for financial links that can expose more victims and co‑conspirators.

“I look up names and dates of birth to make sure they’re real people,” criminal analyst Anita said. “Then, the investigator contacts them to see if they know a policy was created in their name.”

Their cases span every type of insurance fraud—fake medical claims, staged car crashes, fraudulent insurance sales, and even licensed agents using stolen identities to create fake policies and collect commissions.

In 2025, the Fraud Unit helped secure $50.9 million in court‑ordered restitution for victims. Twenty investigators across the state investigated 401 fraud cases, focusing on the ones with the biggest possible impact.

This work helps protect Texans and potentially saves money for all consumers.

Fake insurance agent scam

One of the most common schemes the analysts see involves scammers posing as insurance agents and insisting on direct payment in cash or through apps—methods that are harder to trace.

“Don’t sign up for car insurance on Facebook. Check out the agent and make sure they’re real,” Anita said. She also warns consumers to be cautious of anyone who shows up at your door asking for personal information.

“Don’t rely on an agent’s word alone,” Vivian added. “Contact the insurance company directly to verify your coverage and make sure you receive policy documents.”

Saving policy documents and receipts is essential to creating a paper trail that investigators can follow later.

“It gives us the evidence we need to pin the fraud on the insurance agent,” Vivian said.

Texans can verify an agent’s license on the TDI website.

Exposing a Dallas opioid scam

One of the most memorable cases for Vivian involved Dallas doctors Desi Barroga and Deno Barroga. The twin brothers overprescribed opioids and used patient insurance information to bill multiple insurers for injections they never performed at their pain management clinic.

Vivian assisted during the execution of a search warrant at the clinic alongside the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

The scheme resulted in more than $45 million in false claims billed to health plans.
“In one case, they billed an insurance provider for 80 injections on the same patient in a single day,” Vivian said.

The brothers pleaded guilty, received 78-month federal prison sentences, were ordered to pay $9 million in restitution, and lost their medical licenses.

A busy mission: protecting Texans from fraud

For Vivian and Anita, helping investigators unravel complex insurance schemes is all in a day’s work.

“We stay very busy,” Anita said.

Learn more

• Look up an insurance company or agent
• Report insurance fraud online
• Insurance fraud investigations recover millions for Texans