A Martin County man found himself on the wrong side of the law after getting slapped with insurance fraud charges, and it’s become a bit of a teachable moment for us all about the costs of such schemes. Daniel A. Cox, a 41-year-old resident of Oak City, is accused of trying to double-dip on his auto insurance claims, according to the North Carolina Department of Insurance. The charges climb up to two counts of insurance fraud and two counts of attempting to obtain property by false pretense; and yes, they're all felonies.
Playing a risky game with Progressive Insurance, Cox staked his claim, not once, but twice, for the same automotive mishaps, giving "double trouble" an all too real meaning—the outcomes of car wrecks from April have come back to haunt him in June. The NC Department of Insurance's Criminal Investigations Division says that he tried to cash in on previous claims for the two accidents and provide his wallet with an unearned boost to the tune of $1,268.63, but such actions went far from unnoticed.
Commissioner Mike Causey didn’t mince words on the repercussions of insurance fraud, pointing out the ripple effect it has on the pockets of the consumer; in fact, he pegged the financial burden at around 20 cents per insurance premium dollar, a statement that leaves little to the imagination when calculating the larger impact of deceitful claims. In Cox's case, his attempts to swing the system led to his arrest on June 6, followed by an appearance in Martin County District Court on June 9, with a $2,500 unsecured bond affording his current freedom, the NC Department of Insurance reported.
The N.C. Department of Insurance Criminal Investigations Division takes insurance fraud and white-collar crimes seriously. You can report tips by phone, and it’s okay to stay anonymous.
