North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of William Maxwell Hooks, 21, of 531 N. Cypress St., Wendell. Hooks is accused of insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretense, both felonies.
Special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division accuse Hooks of telling Progressive Insurance Co. that his vehicle was involved in an automobile accident on July 31, 2020, when it actually occurred on July 20, 2020, before he put additional insurance coverage on the vehicle.
The offenses occurred between July 31, 2020, and Sept. 28, 2020
Special agents and Wendell police arrested Hooks on May 28. He was given a $5,000 unsecured bond.
“It’s estimated that property and casualty insurance fraud costs insurance customers $120 billion a year in increased premiums,” said Commissioner Causey. “The Department of Insurance has reinforced its criminal investigations procedures and personnel in an effort to make more arrests to keep fraud from driving up insurance costs.”
If you suspect insurance fraud or other white-collar crimes, you can report it anonymously by calling the N.C. Department of Insurance Criminal Investigations Division at 919-807-6840. Information is also available at www.ncdoi.gov.