North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced that Samuel Dwayne Collins, 53, of 2725 Smethwick Lane, Gastonia, was charged with three counts of insurance fraud, two counts of attempting to obtain property by false pretense and one count of obtaining property by false pretense, all felonies.
According to criminal summonses, Collins presented altered physical therapy receipts and an altered doctor’s note to Integon General Insurance Corp. in an attempt to obtain payment on insurance claims.
The offenses occurred between April 15 and May 6.
Special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division served Collins with the criminal summonses on Sept. 17. He is scheduled to appear in Gaston County District Court on Nov. 17.
Commissioner Causey encourages North Carolinians to help keep insurance premiums low by reporting suspicious fraud.
“Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime,” Commissioner Causey said. “It hits all of us in the pocket through higher premiums.”
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.