A former insurance claims adjuster from Camden County has been charged with submitting false insurance claims and directing nearly $200,000 in fraudulent payments to accounts he controlled, according to New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ), and the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor (OIFP).
John Philbin, 48, of Clementon, faces charges of insurance fraud and theft by deception, both classified as second-degree offenses.
Attorney General Platkin stated: “The cost of insurance is something all families must be concerned with. Insurance fraud only adds to that cost. In this case, the defendant is someone who worked in the industry. We need to be able to trust the people who are working for insurers to do their jobs fairly and honestly.”
DCJ Director Theresa L. Hilton added: “The defendant in this case knew the system from the inside, and he is charged with exploiting that knowledge and access for illicit financial gain. Cases like these are why we have attorneys and investigators who are also familiar with the inner workings of the insurance industry, and who work to bring charges against those who seek to steal from it.”
Interim Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Al Garcia commented: “Insurance claims adjusters are entrusted to safeguard the claims process, not exploit it. When someone with inside access allegedly creates fake claims and funnels payouts to themselves, it betrays policyholders and undermines confidence in the system. OIFP will hold all offenders accountable—especially those in the insurance industry who abuse that trust.”
According to court documents, Philbin was employed by Assurant Insurance Company as a property claims adjuster with authority to approve claims. Between October 2022 and May 2023, he allegedly created 11 fake claim files using false identities. He is also accused of fabricating vendor estimates for emergency work by non-existent companies; business records checks showed no such companies existed.
Philbin reportedly assigned these false claims to himself and approved them using his own authority at Assurant Insurance Company. The funds were then paid out for work that did not occur, benefiting him directly. To hide his actions, Philbin used post office boxes in Clementon and Blackwood. Internal audit trails linked his unique identifier to these fabricated documents. Approximately $191,163 was paid out on these bogus claims.
OIFP Deputy Attorney General Alan Babbitt is prosecuting this case under supervision from Assistant Bureau Chief Evgeniya Sitnikova and Bureau Chief Crystal Callahan. Detectives Shawn McDonald, Joseph Wilsbach, Briana Rafferty led the investigation along with Sergeant Brian Bunn and others from OIFP’s staff; support came from analysts Terry Worthington and Marwa Kashef as well as assistance from Gloucester Township Police Department and Assurant Insurance Company.
Attorney General Platkin’s office noted that all charges remain accusations until proven in court; Philbin is presumed innocent unless found guilty.
Second-degree crimes can lead to sentences ranging from five up to ten years in state prison along with fines reaching $150,000.
The OIFP coordinates anti-insurance fraud efforts statewide; many prosecutions begin with anonymous tips reported via their hotline or website. Rewards may be available for information leading to successful convictions.
