---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001193125-22-315499"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "ROOT"
cik: "0001788882"
company_name: "Root, Inc."
filed_at: "2022-12-30T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-20T21:35:13.336588+00:00"
event_type: "other_material"
sentiment: "negative"
materiality_score: 0.85
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.85
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Root Inc. internal investigation finds $9.5M in fraudulent payments by former employee; expects $9.1M write-off

## Summary
- Former senior marketing employee directed at least $9.5M in payments to a vendor without disclosure; $0.4M already expensed.
- Company expects to write off $9.1M recognized as prepaid expense as of Sept 30, 2022.
- Investigation ongoing; may uncover further fraudulent transactions with other vendors.
- Audit committee engaged outside counsel; DOJ and SEC voluntarily notified; cooperation expected.
- Company will pursue recovery and cooperate with law enforcement; no estimate of further impact yet.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001193125-22-315499
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: ROOT
- cik: 0001788882
- company_name: Root, Inc.
- filed_at: 2022-12-30T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: other_material
- sentiment: negative
- materiality_score: 0.85
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.85
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 2.06, 8.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1788882/000119312522315499/0001193125-22-315499-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1788882/000119312522315499/d425543d8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-22-315499
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-22-315499.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-22-315499.txt

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.