Fraud of the Week

Auto Theft – Washington

Amount – $129,500

A man reported his Audi S8 as being stolen to local police and his insurance company. When the insurer investigated the claim, it discovered that the vehicle wasn't stolen but had been repossessed and the insured had full knowledge of the repossession. He had traded in his 2018 Audi for the 2019 Audi- the old vehicle still had a lien on it which the dealer cleared, and the dealership informed the man that the new vehicle needed to be returned. When the man failed to return the vehicle the dealership repossessed the vehicle with the assistance of local police. The day after the vehicle was repossessed the man reported the vehicle as being stolen to his insurer. The insurer denied the claim and reported the fraud to the Criminal Investigative Unit of the Insurance Department. The case has been referred to the County Prosecutor.