The Department of Banking and Insurance says the new regional office will handle northern New Jersey cases for its Bureau of Fraud Deterrence, which investigates civil insurance fraud referrals and can levy fines and penalties.
WHIPPANY, NJ – The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance has opened a new Whippany regional office for its Bureau of Fraud Deterrence, placing a northern New Jersey insurance-fraud investigation unit in Morris County.
The department marked the opening on June 17, 2026, with Acting Commissioner Susan Ochs, Hanover Township Mayor Thomas “Ace” Gallagher, Morris County Commissioner Director Stephen Shaw, George Wall, the bureau’s chief of investigations, and other officials.
The Bureau of Fraud Deterrence investigates civil insurance fraud violations referred by consumers or insurance industry participants. According to the department, the bureau can levy fines and penalties and recoup fees.
The new Whippany office will handle cases for the northern part of the state. The bureau also operates from its main office in Trenton and a southern regional office in Cherry Hill.
Investigations may involve several lines of insurance, including auto, life, health, home, travel and pet insurance. The department said the bureau also works with county prosecutors and the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor in the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office on investigations that may be civil or criminal.
Since 2023, the bureau has resolved more than 1,500 cases through consent orders or judicial orders, with fines totaling more than $13 million, according to DOBI.
“Our Bureau of Fraud Deterrence is on the front lines helping to reduce insurance fraud and protect consumers from bad actors within the industry,” said Acting Commissioner Susan Ochs. “Safeguarding our marketplace increases trust and lowers costs for consumers, making insurance more affordable for everyone.”
The department said fraudulent insurance claims cost U.S. consumers more than $300 billion a year, citing the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud.
Under the New Jersey Insurance Fraud Prevention Act, insurance companies are required to refer matters they believe involve suspicious, fraudulent or misleading information. Residents may also make referrals through the department’s Consumer Inquiry and Response Center, by calling 609-292-7272 or 1-800-446-7467, or online through the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor.