North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Tamara Elizabeth Nelson, 31, of 627 Pine Valley Drive, Wilmington. Nelson was charged with insurance fraud, a felony.
According to special agents with the Department of Insurance Criminal Investigations Division, Nelson obtained an auto insurance policy with Sentry Insurance on Sept. 1 and the following day, filed a claim for an accident that occurred before she took out the insurance policy. She misrepresented the time of the accident to obtain coverage for a loss that was not covered under the policy, according to the arrest warrant.
Nelson was released under a $3,000 secured bond. Her next court date is in New Hanover County District Court on Nov. 19.
“Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime,” Commissioner Causey said. “It hits all of us in the wallet through higher premiums. I’m fighting this by aggressively pursuing and prosecuting insurance fraud in North Carolina.”
Commissioner Causey encourages North Carolinians to help keep insurance premiums low by reporting suspicious fraud.
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.