Not a Bear However a Faux Deer-Collision Declare Leads to South Carolina Fraud Prices

First it was the pretend bear insurance coverage fraud that made headlines across the nation. Now, it’s a pretend deer that has landed a South Carolina lady in jail after authorities mentioned she offered false info to a Progressive Insurance coverage firm.

Queen Viola Arthur, 33, of Hartsville, was charged with submitting a false auto insurance coverage declare that mentioned her automotive was broken when she hit a deer on the highway. However Progressive denied the declare after figuring out that metadata within the digital pictures the lady submitted proved the photographs had been shot earlier than the alleged incident occurred and earlier than her coverage interval started, the arrest warrant reveals.

South Carolina Legislation Enforcement Division investigators, appearing on the behest of the state Division of Insurance coverage, mentioned the alleged fraud occurred in October 2023. She was arrested earlier this month and was launched on bond.

“Arthur instructed Progressive that her car had no prior unrepaired injury,” the warrant notes. “Arthur tried to achieve an undeserved financial benefit by presenting a false declare totaling $2,014.”

The girl acknowledged no less than a few of the allegations, the warrant mentioned.

The deer declare got here two months after 4 Los Angeles residents had been charged with insurance coverage fraud after claiming that a bear had caused more than $141,000 in damage to their automobiles. Video footage was reviewed and insurance coverage investigators decided it was not an actual bear, however a man in a bear costume.

Subjects
Fraud
South Carolina