Fake Insurance
One of the most important
actions a person can take to protect against the loss of property is to buy
insurance. Under the best of circumstances securing insurance is difficult,
taking time to find what type of coverage is needed, how much coverage is necessary, what insurer to deal with and whether one can
afford adequate protection. Unfortunately, insurance consumers have a serious,
additional concern….whether the insurance offered is legitimate.
The National Association of
Insurance Commissioners has recently reported a dangerous scam. Insurance
consumers are being fooled into buying policies that turn out to be fake. The counterfeit coverage is typically for auto and
home coverage and the practice is particularly concentrated in areas that have
suffered catastrophes. Fake insurance is also being offered in areas where
legitimate insurance has traditionally been expensive.
Sadly, the coverage is
often discovered as fake after a loss has occurred and there's been an attempt
to file a claim. In such instances, a duped consumer has not only lost the
money paid in "premiums,” they now face an uncovered loss.
If you are searching for
insurance, it is important that you do so carefully in order to make sure that
your purchase is made from a reputable source. The most prudent action is to
ask questions and avoid any situation that raises suspicion. Signs that an
opportunity is fake include the following:
·
Insurance
premiums that are much lower than what is typically offered
·
Companies
that downplay any requirements about eligibility for coverage
·
Sources
that attempt high-pressure to hurry you into making a decision
·
"Insurers'
that ask for cash (either down payments or full payments)
·
Lack
of information about their coverage
·
Applications
that include requests for unnecessary financial or personal information
Your best protection
against a high-risk scam is to seek out a qualified insurance professional.
COPYRIGHT: Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc. 2006
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