Man Charged With Filing $50K in Fraudulent iPhone Insurance Claims

A Connecticut man has been arrested and charged with insurance fraud for allegedly running a scam involving filing fraudulent insurance claims for iPhones.

Connecticut State Police said its investigation linked Esmaylin Delacruz of Milford to at least $50,000 in value from fraudulent iPhone insurance claims.

In March 2024, detectives received a complaint from Asurion Insurance Services regarding an organized group running a scheme to obtain new Apple iPhones through fraudulent insurance claims. This case was investigated in conjunction with the New Haven Police Department, who received a similar complaint.

Police said an arrest warrant for Delacruz was approved through the Judicial District of Ansonia-Milford.

Police said their investigation found that Delacruz employs “mules” to open accounts through different wireless carriers and file fraudulent claims for Delacruz to later receive replacement iPhones. The evidence seized included multiple Apple iPhones which were positively identified to have been obtained through fraudulent insurance claims, according to police.

According to police, Delacruz was located on January 30 and arrested on insurance fraud and larceny charges.