A Guilford County man has found himself on the wrong side of the law, facing charges for insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretense, North Carolina officials announced.
Travis Van Coleman, 45, of Greensboro, has been accused of trying to pocket $13,800 by fabricating documents for a false claim of stolen items from his State Farm Insurance home renters policy, following an investigation by the North Carolina Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division, the offense was said to have happened on August 3, 2023, but the long arm of the law caught up with him last Wednesday in Alamance County and he was subsequently released on a written promise to appear in court.
According to a press release from the North Carolina Department of Insurance, Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey has underscored the broader impact of such crimes, saying "Insurance fraud hits consumers in the wallet," noting that, "Approximately 20 cents of every insurance premium dollar go to covering the cost of fraud."
The battle against insurance fraud is an ongoing effort in North Carolina, and Commissioner Causey is keen on rooting out such offenses, offering an aggressive stance in prosecuting these white-collar crimes, Coleman who was scheduled to appear in Guilford County District Court last Friday, and while details of the current status of his case remain scarce, the Department of Insurance urges the public to play a part by reporting suspected fraud, which can be done anonymously through their Criminal Investigations Division.
Those suspecting fraudulent insurance activities have a channel to voice their concerns without revealing their identity by contact calling the N.C. Department of Insurance Criminal Investigations Division at 919-807-6840 or by toll-free phone anywhere in North Carolina at 888-680-7684.
