North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Dawn Elizabeth Cullom, 47, of 1618 West McFarland Ave., Gastonia. Cullom was charged with two counts of insurance fraud, both felonies.
Special Agents from the NC Department of Insurance Criminal Investigations Division, along with the Gaston County Sheriff’s Office, accuse Cullom of making fraudulent statements to two different insurance companies, claiming to have lost jewelry while surfing at Kure Beach, while in fact, photographs revealed that the jewelry was still in her possession. In July, Cullom received a payment in the amount of $7,476 from State Farm Fire and Casualty Company and the following Sept., attempted to claim the same loss with USAA General Indemnity Company.
Gaston County officials issued a warrant for arrest on Jan. 3, and Cullom was released under an unsecured $5,000 bond with an order to return to district court on March 5.
“Insurance fraud hits consumers in the wallet,” Commissioner Causey said. “Approximately 20 cents of every insurance premium dollar goes to covering the cost of fraud. I’m fighting this by aggressively pursuing and prosecuting insurance fraud in North Carolina.”
If you suspect insurance fraud or other white-collar crimes, please report it. You may anonymously report fraud by calling the N.C. Department of Insurance Criminal Investigations Division at 919-807-6840 or toll free from anywhere in North Carolina at 888-680-7684.
Information is also available at www.ncdoi.gov.