What to Learn from Insurance Fraud
Over the past week and holidays there have been numerous cases in which an unlicensed “insurance agent” took advantage of consumers. These agents promised consumers a policy in which the consumers were not receiving.
In California, Rosa De Romero De Rosa is awaiting trial for grand theft as she charged a consumer trying to purchase homeowner’s insurance premium payments. Rosa issued the homeowner a fake certificate and started cashing his checks. It wasn’t until the consumer went to the insurance company Rosa was “associated” with, to figure out why he didn’t get his 2009 policy to look at. When the consumer and the company realized he had not been receiving any coverage at all. Rosa was charged in July 2008 for two counts of grand theft for insurance fraud and did not have an insurance license.
In North Dakota, Patricia Howard has received a cease and desist order because of her deceitful and dishonest insurance practices. Howard did not file her consumers information with the insurance company she worked with and her clients were not being covered.
Currently in Alabama, Benton Gray Harvey has pleaded guilty to a federal criminal charge and for charging consumers premiums on fake insurance policies. Harvey is accused of charging at least $120,000 for homeowner’s insurance policies that were fake and not filed with any homeowner insurance company. Harvey lacked an insurance license and could receive a maximum of 10 years in prison.
As insurance consumers read and hear about fraudulent cases like these, they should learn from them and realize what to do when purchasing insurance. Consumers should always make sure the agent has a valid license and is licensed in the state they live in. Also consumers should contact the company the agent is associated with and make sure that the agent is part of the company. It may be necessary to find information on the insurance agent to see if they have been involved in fraudulent cases before. Check the reputation of the company and the agent to feel more assured before giving them any money and filing for insurance.