July 31, 2024
Forensic accountant follows the money to help victims
Vivian says her job as a financial analyst performing forensic accounting is like piecing together a puzzle. Typically, the pieces are bank statements, business records, and other official documents.
It’s Vivian’s challenge to make the pieces fit.
Recently, Vivian helped TDI's Fraud Unit stop two doctors – Desi and Deno Barroga of Dallas – who were overprescribing opioids and falsely billing health plans.
Fraud Unit investigators got Vivian subpoenas for the records she needed. Next, she combed through the doctors' personal and business bank records to trace the $45 million they billed and the $9 million they were paid.
"It's my job to find where that money is and where it's going," Vivian said
TDI's investigators used what Vivian found to help federal agencies, including the FBI, build a criminal case. The doctors pleaded guilty and face up to 10 years in prison.
Aside from stopping criminals, the Fraud Unit also wants to get restitution for victims. Courts can order criminals to pay restitution.
Vivian said: "One way agencies can do that is by seizing their assets. To be able to seize those assets, we have to prove that they were bought with dirty money.”
Before joining TDI, Vivian traced properties and assets for an accounting firm. Her college degree was in finance with an emphasis on business evaluations.
She loves taking rows and columns of numbers on a spreadsheet and making sense of them.
"That's what I love about this job: making sense of the numbers for everyone else. It's my contribution to the team effort."
Learn more
July 25, 2024
Fraud Unit warns local officials about scams
Members of TDI Fraud Unit’s Catastrophe Response Team met with Roman Forest Police Department staff.
Out-of-town scam artists are often the first to knock on doors after disasters. TDI gives tips to avoid scams, like hiring local contractors, getting written bids, and checking references.
Our toolkit for preventing fraud has tips and flyers that city and county officials can use to warn residents about contractor fraud.
After Hurricane Beryl, the TDI Fraud Unit’s Catastrophe Response Team visited city and county officials to talk about the toolkit and fraud prevention.
“Unfortunately, after a big storm we see an influx of criminal activity from scam artists looking to profit from people who are trying to start the recovery process,” said Chris Davis, who leads the Fraud Unit.
To report suspected fraud, call our Help Line at 800-252-3439 or visit our fraud page.
Learn more
- Preventing fraud after a storm: a toolkit for city and county officials
- How to avoid contracting scams
- Do you know the signs of a contracting scam?
March 4, 2024
Do you need insurance experience to work for TDI? No.
True or false? You must have an insurance background to work for the Texas Department of Insurance.
False!
TDI has wide-ranging job opportunities. Recent job openings include those for attorney, investigator, actuary, auditor, programming, and accounting positions.
Sign up to get emails of TDI job postings
Isela Mata of TDI’s Human Resources office talks about why Texans of all stripes should consider working for the department in our video, A variety of job opportunities available.
Learn more
Thinking about a new job? Don’t forget the insurance.
October 31, 2023
TDI employs more than 100 veterans and welcomes more applicants
TDI staff are proud to work alongside many of our nation’s military veterans—and welcome more.
We're honored to call these veterans our coworkers.
“More than 100 veterans now work for TDI,” said Cynthia Olivier, associate commissioner of human resources. “We encourage veterans to reach out to us about job opportunities.”
If you’re a veteran seeking work, check out our job postings and contact the TDI human resources team with questions at HR-Recruitment@tdi.texas.gov.
You also can sign up for email alerts to new openings.
If you are interested in applying for a job, be sure to read our Before you apply webpage for important notes and documents you will need to submit.
October 12, 2023
New captive insurance specialist
The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) announces the hiring of a captive insurance specialist with invaluable expertise.
Robert Rudnai is responsible for licensing and monitoring Texas-based captives and alerting businesses to the potential of starting a captive.
In 2013, the Legislature passed a measure allowing pure captives and requiring TDI to license them. At that time, Rudnai was among a handful of TDI financial analysts providing oversight to captives. He evaluated captive insurance license applications, met with prospective captive applicants, and developed relationships with captive service providers.
Rudnai, who started Oct. 2, ramped up quickly thanks to his familiarity with the captives landscape.
“I have been learning about and providing regulatory information to captives from the get-go,” Rudnai said. “The challenge now is to do so as efficiently, consistently, and predictably as possible.”
State lawmakers this year directed TDI to employ a specialist to support captive insurance oversight and related activities in Texas, which has 76 state-domiciled captives and ranks high in total premium volume from captives.
“And,” Rudnai said, “TDI is prepared for more growth.”
A captive is a wholly owned insurance company created to provide insurance coverage to its owner and affiliated companies. Captives are a form of self-insurance. They are typically established to meet the unique insurance needs of the owners.
Rudnai, who will address the Texas Captive Insurance Association this month, said: “There’s an opportunity now to use the experience and operational knowledge gained over the last decade to evaluate and refine processes and procedures. This starts by my listening to our stakeholders and considering their perspectives.”
The Army veteran, who has a master’s degree in accounting, rejoined the department after working in the insurance industry.
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Insurance tips: Use our tips to get the best deal on insurance, protect yourself from fraud, and learn what to do when you have a problem.
