Fraud of the Week

Personal Auto Arson – Texas

Amount – $115,000

When a man realized that he could not afford to make payments on his truck, he arranged with two other men to have the vehicle stolen and burned. The vehicle was reported stolen by the owner and was recovered the next day without wheels and tires and having been burned to the ground. During the investigation of the theft, various details raised red flags with investigators. The owner of the vehicle finally confessed that he could not make payments from what he was earning and that he arranged to "have something done" to the vehicle. The owner of the vehicle has been arrested on charges of third-degree felony insurance fraud in the amount of $30,000 to $150,000 and first-degree felony engaging in organized criminal activity; he remains in jail in lieu of $150,000 bond.