Interboro’s own J. Michael Skiba takes his expertise across state lines and
international borders
Fraud is a big deal, especially when it comes to insurance. While the public doesn’t
generally consider the personal effects of deceit by other policyholders, there’s no question
that fraud in the insurance world hurts us all. In fact, the FBI estimates that insurance fraud
(non-health insurance) costs the average American family between $400 and $700 each
and every year in the form of increased rates! One staged robbery here, an exaggerated
injury there, and all policyholders could be seeing huge premium increases and rising
expenses. As an insurer, we are committed to protecting all policyholders from the
detriments of insurance fraud and we’ve
assembled a talented team of investigators to
protect your insurance investments. In fact, we
have some of the best!
Interboro’s very own Michael Skiba, MBA, Ph.D.
has been in hot demand in the insurance fraud
investigation field—both nationally and
internationally! On May 2nd, 2014, Mr. Skiba
attended the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the
International
Association
of
Special
th
Investigation Unit’s (RMASIU) 18
annual
Seminar and Expo on Insurance Fraud as a
guest speaker. Additionally, Mr. Skiba has been
prestigiously invited as a keynote speaker to
the International Association of Special
Investigation Unit’s (IASIU) 7th IASIU Europe
Conference on Insurance Fraud. He is a wellknown investigator in both realms for his
expertise in addressing the challenges that
insurance fraud presents beyond New York
borders.
In Colorado, Mr. Skiba spoke to an audience of 250-350 attendees about the challenges that
insurance fraud investigators face in this day and age.
Internationally, the honor was bestowed upon him by IASIU Europe President Oliver
Lindsiepe of Germany, who cited Skiba in a letter to Interboro’s SIU Manager Kevin
O’Connor as “one of the top fraud fighters in the U.S. insurance industry,” highlighting his
knowledge as an asset in the international realm.
All SIU investigators at Interboro and AutoOne Insurance Companies are members of the
IASIU, but Michael Skiba became involved with the IASIU directly upon founding the New
York State Special Investigation Unit’s (NYSSIU) own chapter. He has been President of this
chapter, which heads all SIU departments within the state, for approximately ten years.
Through annual meetings, conferences and telephone calls, as well as presentations that
has previously given, he became familiar with IASIU Europe President Lindsiepe.
Mr. Skiba received his undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice and further pursued a
Master’s of Business Administration while working in claims at All State Insurance
Company. Here, he became fascinated with white collar crime. When AutoOne started up in
2001, he saw this as an opportunity to pursue his developing interest. “I got hired off the
bat when they were looking to fill their SIU department,” he recalled cheerfully. From there,
Mr. Skiba began teaching on the side and received a Ph.D. in White Collar Crime in June
2013.
Mr. Skiba is incredibly excited to take his dissertation and knowledge overseas, citing
Europe as a favorite travel destination. “To [travel to Europe] in a work environment is
even better,” he states, and this time around, the conference will be a “big stage” to present
his work to. His dissertation took approximately two years to complete and consisted of
interviews with insurance investigators and professionals to develop an idea of current
national trends in insurance fraud. “The across the pond perspective—what we’re seeing
here,” he explains will be central to his discussion with the European chapter of the IASIU.
“Maybe they can get some good intelligence and take it for what they need to there,” he
further emphasized.
The 18th Annual RMASIU Seminar took place on Friday, May 2nd in Littleton, Colorado, and
the 7th IASIU Europe Conference on Insurance Fraud will be held June 16th -18th in Dresden,
Germany. You can rest assured knowing that your insurance company is a leader in fraud
prevention, with an unmistakable focus on your protection above all else.