Start an Insurance SIU Fraud Investigation Firm

1. 1

   Map the licensing you need

   Most states require a private investigator license for claim investigation and surveillance, and some regulate insurance adjusting separately. Confirm both before soliciting carriers, because insurers vet vendor licensing carefully and a lapse gets you off the panel.

2. 2

   Learn the carrier's fraud triggers

   SIU work targets red-flag claims: staged accidents, inflated or repeat losses, suspicious timing, and organized rings. Understanding how adjusters flag and refer claims lets you deliver exactly the documented evidence a carrier needs to act.

3. 3

   Build claim-grade evidence discipline

   Recorded statements, surveillance, scene documentation, and background work must be lawful and clean, because a wrongful denial invites a bad-faith lawsuit. Your investigation has to strengthen the carrier's position, not create new liability, so lawful method is everything.

4. 4

   Get onto insurer vendor panels

   Carriers and third-party administrators route SIU work through approved vendor lists. Approval rewards licensing, insurance, reliable turnaround, and clean reports, so treat panel qualification as your main growth lever.

5. 5

   Price per assignment with clear scope

   Bill by assignment or by hour with a defined scope and surveillance-hour caps that adjusters can approve. Predictable pricing and fast reporting keep the referrals flowing from busy claims desks.

6. 6

   Carry the right insurance

   General and professional liability protect you against claims arising from surveillance and investigation. Carriers often require proof of coverage before adding you to a panel, so line this up early.

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