North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Matthew Scott Schuhmacher, 47, of 6211 Wrightsville Ave., Wilmington. Schuhmacher was charged with insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretense, both felonies.
Special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division accuse Schuhmacher of attempting to obtain $1,441.62 from State Farm Mutual Auto Insurance Co. by telling the insurer that damage to his truck’s roof and GPS antenna occurred on Nov. 22, 2023, five days after he obtained collision coverage for his truck on Nov. 17, 2023.
According to the arrest warrant, the insurance company learned from a car dealership and that it serviced the truck for the same damage on Nov. 8, 2023, before he obtained the collision coverage.
Special agents arrested Schuhmacher on May 22. He was given a $5,000 unsecured bond and is due in Brunswick County District Court on May 24.
“Insurance fraud hits consumers in the wallet,” Commissioner Causey said. “Approximately 20 cents of every insurance premium dollar go 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.