How to make your computer look like it crashed due to electric damage?

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techie653

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My cousin says that his computer was fried from lightning striking his house, and now he's getting paid for the models current price new. I'm almost certain he's taking advantage of his insurance and is committing insurance fraud.

He's been wanting a new computer for a while now, but couldn't afford it. There is no sign of lightning on the roof, and insurance will pay you up to $5,000, no questions asked, for damaged items, so someone could easily take advantage of this. And just knowing my cousin, this is probably something he would do -_- He's claiming he didn't do anything to it, but his house isn't on a hill or anything. He said it worked for like 5 days, with signs of performance loss, but then it just completely failed.

I'm not going to do anything, legally, if I find out he did, but my opinion of him will change. So my question is, how can you make your computer look like it failed from electrical damage (specifically, post-lightning strike)? When I say make it look like it fail, I mean actually make it permanently fail.

Even if he is telling the truth, I'd like to know just for the hell of it. Is it possible? If so, how without any indications of damage that wouldn't come from lightning (i.e. Dipping your computer in water). I appreciate if you read all this and value your answer. Thanks.
 
Computers can fail and not show any visible signs of damage. Hypothetically, he could have just opened the case, taken a metal screw driver and just started shorting things out and there is no way to tell.
 
yep, i have a power supply that just decided to stop working right, luckily had bought another for my build and now get to eventually get a new one of actual quality, computer parts are sensitive, something simple and/or nothing at all can cause them to fail.
 
I don't think anyone else should say anything, because he could be lying and trying to do this himself, just saying.
 
It the lightening did not hit his house which i would believe and if it was a lightening bolt it could and easily be the power lines. A surge with the power company. It would also be on record with them. All my lines are underground and go out because of a planned outage with the company. Putting the power back in can create a surge also.
You can easily lose from a surge computers, stereo's, tv, fridge or what ever.

For the record: if it happens, or a tornado and lose power then document the time and date. you will need it for the insurance to collect and yes they will not pay for nothing if you don't have proof of occurrence.
 
claptonman said:
I don't think anyone else should say anything, because he could be lying and trying to do this himself, just saying.
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maybe but then again, insurance companies are a big enough scam, so why not find ways to scam them too? i mean its big stupid companies that suck money right out of everyone so if we can find a way to get money from them too then why the hell wont we do it?
 
ixiboneheadixi said:
maybe but then again, insurance companies are a big enough scam, so why not find ways to scam them too? i mean its big stupid companies that suck money right out of everyone so if we can find a way to get money from them too then why the hell wont we do it?
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I'm with you on that.

Screw insurance, I'll save my money, and when something actually happens, I'll pay for it.
 
That being so, this is still illegal and against forum rules, if he is lying. I don't know why this info would help him, as he said he just wants to know for the hell of it.
 
I don't think it would be that easy to get the insurance company to cover your damaged computer, like tremmor said, you would need proof. Causing electrical damage to your PC is pretty easy but if you do it and your insurance company doesn't agree with your story your going to be left with a broken PC and might be facing legal issues.
 
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