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THE DOUBLE OAK GAZETTE
PAGE 19
Not all Crime Fighters carry a Badge
Submitted by Mike Honea Agency
YOU CAN HELP STOP INSURANCE FRAUD
BUT WHY SHOULD YOU?
Insurance fraud is a problem for all of us because it costs every
American family an extra $950 a year in insurance premiums.
It’s your money at stake, maybe even your life.
At Encompass Insurance, we’re serious about investigating in-
surance fraud and when we find it, we prosecute. You can help
by protecting yourself from becoming a victim and by reporting
fraud when you see or suspect it.
INSURANCE FRAUD CAN BE STOPPED
HOW TO STOP A FRAUD IN PROGRESS.
Here are some simple ways to protect yourself if you are in-
volved in an accident, even if the circumstances don’t seem sus-
picious.
• Always call the police and make sure an official report is filed
This prevents the other driver from claiming damages that
weren’t caused by the accident. Be suspicious if the other
driver objects.
• Make a note of how may passengers are in the other vehicle
and, if you can, get all their names and addresses. This will
prevent claims from being paid to people who weren’t there.
• Carefully check your bills related to the loss to make sure all
of the charges are legitimate.
To some people a “little” insurance fraud can seem like easy
money. It’s tempting to exaggerate a claim or falsify facts on a
insurance application. Then risk, of course is that if caught, in-
surance coverage can be jeopardized and there’s the possibility
of criminal prosecution, fines, even imprisonment.
Claims that have been aggressively investigated due to fraud,
misrepresentation or concealment involve some of the following
scenarios.
• Giving the insurance company an address other than where
the customer lives to obtain a reduced premium.
• Exaggerating the value or misrepresenting the existence of
items claimed stolen in a theft.
• Misrepresenting the seriousness or existence of an injury or
disability.
The people involved in those claims found that instead of
cheaper insurance or higher payoff on their claims, they were
not only paid nothing for the misrepresented items, but in many
cases nothing on the entire claim. Fraud costs money!
BE ALERT FOR SCHEMES AND SCAMS.
The other side of insurance fraud is professional criminals and
their corrupt accomplices who concoct elaborate schemes to
fraudulently collect insurance. One of the worst examples of
this are people who stage automobile accidents, sometimes with
the assistance of corrupt doctors and lawyers.
The best way to protect yourself from this type of scheme is to
drive defensively, Always be alert to the possibility that the er-
ratic driver in front of you may not be merely a bad
driver, they could actually be trying to cause an accident.
MIKE HONEA AGENCY
INSURANCE
Homeowners • Auto • Fire • Health • Life
Group Health • Business
For quote, see www.honeainsurance.com
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(972) 436-0717
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REPORT FRAUD WHEN YOU SEE OR SUSPECT
IT.
Why should you report insurance fraud? Simple. It’s your money
they’re stealing and maybe even your life they’re risking. Some-
times, a corrupt legal or medical professional, a repair shop
owner, or someone else will even offer to “let you in on the ac-
tion.” When that or anything else suspicious happens, tell your
insurance agent or claims representative. If you want to report
suspected fraud anonymously, call the National Insurance
Crime Bureau at 800-TEL-NICB (800-835-6422).
TAKE INSURANCE FRAUD SERIOUSLY. WE DO.
As costly as insurance fraud is, you can bet we do everything we
can to spot it and stop it. Our investigators have many sophisti-
cated tools, but we need your help too. If all of us get serious
about insurance fraud, it can be stopped.
The above information presented by Encompass Insurance Com-
pany available from Mike Honea Agency. As an Independent
Agent, Encompass is one of many companies represented by the
Mike Honea Agency. Located in Lewisville, The Mike Honea
Agency will be glad to review your personal and commercial in-
surance needs. Contact our agency at 972-436-0717 or visit our
website at www.honeainsurance.com.
22 -
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1020 W Main Street • Lewisville, TX
