Words of Wisdom: James Quiggle
Quiggle monitored the fraudulent activities of countless bad actors, protecting policyholders and insurers around the globe.
The world of fraud is constantly changing as new bad actors and creative scams emerge. Tracking fraudsters around the globe is no small task, and yet, James Quiggle, the former senior director of communications for the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud (the Coalition), handled that responsibility with grace, creativity and honor for more than 20 years.
Jim spent nine years with the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) in the 1980s, where he honed his knowledge of insurance and fraud. Dennis Jay, the Coalition’s executive director for 25 years, hired Jim for PIA in 1983 and then brought him to the Coalition in 2000, where he concentrated on learning more about fraud. “I owe so much to Dennis Jay,” shares Quiggle. “He was a one-of-a-kind executive. He knows insurance intimately, plus legislation, communications, management and journalism. I owe a lot to Dennis for the career doors he’s opened for me and the many amazing fraud fighters I count as friends and colleagues.” Jay retired in 2019, and Matthew Smith succeeded him as the Coalition’s executive director.
During his time at the Coalition, Quiggle saw all sorts of scams ranging from calculated criminals who perpetrated major crimes to reckless individuals who didn’t bother to consider the consequences ahead of their actions. “Scams can take you through the full range of emotions, from ‘What was that idiot thinking?’ to ‘Who would do something that cold-blooded?’” he recalls. “A woman cut off her hand with a circular saw to steal medical insurance. A guy burned down his home for insurance, then shot an entire family because they were potential witnesses. The owner of a beauty salon torched her place – the walls collapsed on two firefighters, killing them. A wise guy shot himself in the leg to score workers’ comp money and lost his leg in the process.”
Quiggle explains that fraud schemes have become more complex in recent years, with some of them costing upwards of $1 billion and involving rings from Eastern Europe, Central America, and the U.S., making it a global issue. “We should view fraud not solely as a localized threat on U.S. soil. Rather it’s increasingly a transnational threat run by very sophisticated bad actors,” explains Quiggle. “Some may even have state support with resources that extend their geographic reach and theft power. More cooperation among fraud fighters will be required to meet this growing threat in the years ahead.”
While chasing fraudsters is more than a full-time job, Quiggle says he plans to “retire to something rather than from something.” Travel has been a long-time interest, and he’s looking forward to visiting the Amalfi Coast, Sedona, and Paris, as well as hiking the ancient Celtic trails of England. “I hope to return to two longtime personal causes — abused children and women. I also plan to be in better physical shape after the pandemic ends than before it started.”
A little-known fact is that Quiggle ran four Marine Corps marathons in Washington, D.C. “I’ll always remember the incredible support of thousands of shouting onlookers. They were by the roadside in chilly November weather, urging me, a perfect stranger, to reach the finish line with the last tiny molecules of energy my legs could muster after 26 miles on the asphalt roads. Inspiring and unforgettable!”
As he’s traveling the globe, Quiggle will also put his skills as a photojournalist to good use. He finds that his experience created a life-long wish “to create beauty, action and intrigue with a camera lens.”
Many strive to find work that will be fulfilling and make a true difference and after his time with the Coalition, Quiggle believes he was very fortunate to spend his career doing something he was so passionate about. “It’s hard to imagine anything but being a fraud fighter after 20 amazing years with the Coalition. I’m blessed to enjoy using the written and spoken word as a personal passion,” reflects Quiggle. While he could have done consumer messaging for another national cause, he considers fighting insurance fraud an honorable calling.
“Most of us in the anti-fraud community deeply believe in our work. We take predatory schemes and dollar thefts personally. So, what great fortune to earn a salary while pursuing a cause you can believe in. And to share that career space with colleagues who believe equally in a passion for justice.”
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