In a shocking case of insurance fraud, a man has been charged after allegedly immersing his legs in dry ice for ten hours in an attempt to claim a payout of over $1,273,099.
Chang, the accused individual, has been accused by investigators of intentionally submerging his legs in dry ice for ten hours to receive insurance compensation after his limbs were amputated due to frostbite.
According to Chang's account, he asserted that he incurred the injuries while riding his scooter on a chilly evening in northern Taiwan, which subsequently led to severe frostbite.
However, insurers became suspicious when they noticed Chang's recent acquisition of multiple high-value insurance policies before the purported incident.
Upon further investigation, the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) in Taiwan found that serious cases of frostbite requiring amputation due to natural climate factors are unheard of in the flatlands of the subtropical region.
The CIB presented weather reports from the day in question, which indicated temperatures between 6.1°C and 17°C, too mild to cause such severe frostbite.
Additionally, it was discovered that Chang was not wearing shoes or socks at the time of the incident, leading investigators to conclude that the injuries were intentionally self-inflicted.
Chang underwent emergency surgery last year, resulting in both of his legs being amputated below the knee due to fourth-degree frostbite, sepsis, and bone necrosis.
He allegedly received assistance from an accomplice named Liao, who helped him immerse his legs in the dry ice by filling a plastic bucket and securing him to a chair.
Liao documented the entire incident between 2 am and noon on January 27, 2023.
While Chang was successful in claiming approximately $7,000 from one insurance company, four other insurers refused to pay out the rest of his disability claims.
Chang's claims totaled approximately $1.3 million in value, prompting all five insurance companies to report his dubious claims to the authorities.
As a result of the investigation, Chang and Liao, who were former high school classmates, have been charged with insurance fraud and attempted insurance fraud.
In another case, a Hungarian court ruled that a man intentionally placed himself in the path of a train, resulting in the amputation of both his legs, with the motive of claiming over $3,055,437 in compensation.
Sandor Cs., the defendant in question, underwent nearly a decade of investigations after the incident.
Authorities grew suspicious upon uncovering his ownership of 14 high-risk life insurance policies before the event.
Despite his reliance on a wheelchair and prosthetic limbs, the insurance claims were rejected due to doubts about self-infliction.
The case continues, and the authorities are determining the appropriate legal actions to be taken against them.
