California Woman Charged in Coffee Burn Insurance Fraud Scam

Prosecutors say they have grounds to charge a Southern California woman who claimed she scalded her hand with McDonald’s coffee.

Thirty-eight-year-old Selena Edwards of Victorville was charged last month with 21 felony counts of insurance and worker’s compensation fraud.

Authorities say Edwards falsely claimed to have received second-degree burns last year when a lid came loose on a drive-thru cup of coffee. Prosecutors say she submitted a claim to McDonald’s that included phony treatment documents and burn photos copied from a hospital website.

Patrick Storm, a spokesman for the San Bernardino County district attorney’s office, says McDonald’s insurer paid out about $2,000.

Storm says Edwards surrendered on Oct. 29 and is free without bail.

She couldn’t be reached for comment Monday and it’s unclear whether she has a lawyer.