A Calgary woman has been charged after allegedly submitting false dental insurance claims totaling nearly $30,000 over a decade-long period.
Its the second time police have charged Alena Vladimiro Smadych with a dental scam.
Following a joint investigation by Calgary police, insurance investigators, and dental consultants, authorities uncovered a series of fraudulent claims dating back to January 2013.
The investigation revealed that false billings for procedures including endodontic work, restorations, and extractions were submitted to an insurance provider until January 2023.
The claims were tied to one dentist at All About Family Dental, located at 7520 Elbow Dr. S.W.
Investigators determined that the personal information of five patients had been used to support the fraudulent claims. After reviewing hundreds of transactions, enough evidence was gathered to support charges.
On Monday, March 31, police arrested the 55-year-old and charged her with one count of fraud over $5,000.
In Nov., 2023, charged Smadych with a dental insurance fraud case that involved nearly $100,000 in false claims.
The investigation was sparked when the insurance provider detected multiple irregularities in claims related to fillings and root canal treatments.
All these claims were attributed to the same dentist at All About Family Dental, located at 7520 Elbow Drive SW.
The insurance provider promptly reported their findings to the police in June 2023, leading to the initiation of a criminal investigation.
Collaborating closely with the insurance provider, law enforcement gathered substantial evidence supporting criminal charges against Alena Vladimiro Smadych, a dentist originally from Russia.
The evidence revealed a pattern of discrepancies and false billings linked to 53 patients who had undergone dental procedures between June 2015 and June 2021. The cumulative value of these fraudulent claims amounted to $97,540.
The affected patients were unaware of the falsified claims until the conclusion of the investigation.
The investigation is ongoing, and police are urging anyone with additional information to contact them at 403-266-1234. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers.
