North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Amanda Michelle Austin, 36, of 13260 S. NC Hwy. 231, Middlesex. Austin is charged with two counts of insurance fraud and two counts of obtaining property by false pretense. All four charges are felonies.
Special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division investigated Austin after USAA found fraudulent police reports, edited pictures and a false statement had been presented to a renter’s insurance policy and a personal property policy. The total value of the claim was $8,121 obtained by Austin under false pretense.
According to the arrest warrant, the offense occurred on Dec. 4 ,2024.
Austin was arrested on Feb. 27 and released on a $20,000 unsecured bond. She appeared in Nash County District Court on April 1.
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.