‘Coffee Burns’ Lead to Fraud Charges Against California McDonald’s Customer

Selena Edwards, 38, of Victorville, Calif., was arrested and faces 21 felony counts of insurance and workers’ compensation fraud associated with an alleged fraudulent claim against McDonald’s for second-degree burns to her hand from spilled coffee

The charges also include submitting a fraudulent insurance claim, false statements and false evidence, according to the California Department of Insurance.

Edwards allegedly claimed that when she was handed a cup of coffee at a McDonald’s drive-thru, the lid was not secured and the coffee spilled on her right hand.

Edwards reportedly submitted an injury claim with photos of a hand with second-degree burns, but detectives discovered that some of the photos had been copied from a hospital website. In an attempt to exaggerate her injury, Edwards also reportedly submitted counterfeit documentation for treatment that she claimed to have received from a local hospital.

Edwards was released on her own recognizance and is scheduled Monday, November 10, 2014 to return to court for a preliminary hearing.