A 22-year-old Wake County woman faces charges of insurance fraud and two related offenses after allegedly attempting to deceive her insurance company. Dashanique Winston, of Raleigh, is accused of presenting altered bank statements to State Farm Insurance Company, claiming to have coverage following an automobile accident. However, investigators from the North Carolina Department of Insurance's Criminal Investigations Division determined that her policy had lapsed prior to the incident.
Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced the charges, stating Winston is charged with one count of insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretense, both felonies. Additionally, she is charged with a misdemeanor for operating a vehicle with no license. The value of the insurance payout she tried to secure was reported at $5,500. According to an official press release on NCDOI, the alleged offenses took place on May 10 and May 11, 2024.
Winston was arrested on Feb. 20 and later released on a $10,000 unsecured bond. She appeared in Wake County District Court last Tuesday. Addressing the matter, Commissioner Causey remarked on the NCDOI website, "Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime," and highlighted its impact on consumers, saying, "It hits all of us in the pocket through higher premiums."
Authorities urge the public to report any suspicions of insurance fraud or white-collar crimes. The N.C. Department of Insurance Criminal Investigations Division has provided a toll-free hotline incentivizing anonymous tips from concerned citizens. In a commitment to combat fraudulent activities, individuals may call 919-807-6840 or, from anywhere in North Carolina, 888-680-7684 to report any fraudulent behavior.
