North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced the arrest of Oscar Rafael Ruiz, 44, of 1921 Abbott St., Charlotte. Ruiz is charged with 26 counts of insurance fraud, 21 counts of attempting to obtain property by false pretense and five counts of obtaining property by false pretense. All 52 charges are felonies.
According to special agents with the NC Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division, Ruiz filed numerous fraudulent lost or stolen luggage trip delay and cancellation claims with multiple insurers.
He submitted various false credit card statements to collect financial compensation for the claims, that agents later determined had been fabricated. Bank statements he submitted contained inflated hotel payments and fabricated Amazon purchase receipts. Ruiz collected a total of $22,240 from the claims and attempted to collect another $262,106.
The offenses occurred between Sept. 10, 2023 and Jan. 27, 2025, according to the warrant.
Ruiz was arrested on July 8 by the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office and released on $260,000 secured bond. He appeared in Mecklenburg County District Court on July 9.
“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.