Durham man accused of trying to fraudulently obtain over $6K in insurance scheme, officials say

DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) – A Durham man is accused of trying to fraudulently obtain more than $6,700 from an insurance company after he was involved in a car crash, the North Carolina Department of Insurance announced Monday.

According to special agents with the N.C. Department of Insurance Criminal Investigations Division, 53-year-old Eric Jahmal Simpson of Durham was charged with insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretense, which are both considered felonies.

Special agents said he attempted to obtain $6,706.66 from Sentry Insurance for lost wages following an automobile crash. The offenses occurred on Feb. 15, officials said.

The arrest warrant states that Simpson had not been employed since December 2023. He was arrested on July 17 and placed under a $5,000 bond, officials said.

"Insurance fraud hits consumers in the wallet," North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey said in a news release. "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."

Officials urge people to report fraud or any other white-collar crimes 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.