Fraud of the Week
Filing a False claim – California
Amount – 0
An insured was arraigned on multiple felony counts of insurance fraud after filing a fraudulent insurance claim stating her vehicle had been stolen after being in a high speed pursuit. She claimed she was at a nightclub and left with an unidentified male, who stole her vehicle after she got out. The car was then involved in a high speed chase with police. The chase was stopped due to speeds over 120 mph. Police saw the vehicle at a stop light with a male behind the wheel, where pursuit began again. The driver was later identified as the insured's husband.
The driver was arrested for reckless evading and driving on a suspended license. The theft report was made the day after the vehicle was supposedly stolen. The insured later changed her story and said that the vehicle was stolen from the valet parking lot. A warrant for her arrest was issued with bail set at $1 million. She surrendered and was arraigned on the fraud charges.