INSURANCE

Insurance scams happen and Wyoming is not immune.

Telephone & Email scams

Be cautious of phone calls and emails from a person claiming to be your insurance company wanting your personal information.

Let the individual know you will call them back. You can then take the time to look up your agent's number and call them.

Do not trust the number given to you by the caller. The same can be said for emails. Reach out personally to the agent or company.

Do not respond to emails. Call your insurance provider and ask if they are needing updated information.

Seniors are frequently the targets of insurance fraud.

Make sure your elderly loved ones don't fall for high pressure tactics and requests for banking or personal information. Some common scams are:

1) You receive a call and the individual claims to be your insurance agent or from your insurance company. They state that they need to verify for your personal information, and if you do not provide the information, at that time, over the phone, your policy will be cancelled. In Wyoming, they are required by law to provide written notification of cancellation.

2) Be cautious of insurance agents or companies trying to sell you an insurance policy over the phone. While legitimate companies and agents may call you, unlicensed individuals often use cold calls to obtain your information.

Auto Insurance Scams

Staged automobile accidents are very common. This scam occurs when a person intentionally causes an accident to file fraudulent or inflated insurance claims with your company for damages and injuries.

If you are involved in an accident, contact local law enforcement and document as much as possible.

Take photos or videos and get the other drivers insurance information.

Be wary of tow truck drivers that you or the police did not call that show up at the scene of the accident.

When looking for an auto repair company, do your homework.

Ask your friends and family who they have used; read company profiles; contact the Better Business Bureau.

Healthcare Scams

Be careful not to give out your personal medical information and health insurance policy information.

Periodically check your credit report to verify no one has opened lines of credit to obtain medical care and review your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) to verify no one has used your medical insurance.

Take your time choosing a healthcare plan. Don't buy anything from anyone who tries to talk you into making a quick decision. A new healthcare scam involving Medicare cards is starting across the country. If someone offers to give you a plastic Medicare card if you share your information, report it to Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-800-856-6880 or https://wysmp.org/or email smpmgr@wyoming.com.

Property Insurance Scams

After a disaster, contractors frequently go around neighborhoods offer cleanup or repair services. While many of these individuals are honest and reputable, some may not be. Do your research before agreeing to their offer. Never pay the full amount up front and don't sign a contract that has blank spaces or lacks page numbering. If you suspect a business of misrepresentation, unfair or deceptive acts or practices, you can reach out to the Wyoming Consumer Protection Unit at the Wyoming Attorney General's Office by calling 307-777-6397 or 1-800-438-3435 (toll free in Wyoming).

There are various agencies that can assist you with questions regarding fraud or to report fraud.

If you suspect insurance fraud, please reach out to the Wyoming Department of Insurance at 307-777-7401. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners also has a fraud reporting system that can be found at https://ofrs.naic.org/select Consumers and follow the prompt. In addition, the Attorney General's Office has a helpful contact list for consumers at https://ag.wyo.gov/law-office-division/consumer-protection-and-antitrust-unit/other-agencies