Texas Border Business
- Advertisement -
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE – Do you think insurance fraud rarely happens or mostly on TV dramas?
Think again.
Last year, the Fraud Unit at the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) got more than 16,000 reports of possible fraud. The unit, which has officers around the state, worked on nearly 400 criminal investigations. It currently has more than 170 ongoing investigations in 40 Texas counties.
- Advertisement -
Tips to protect yourself from fraud:
- When shopping for insurance, check that the agent you’re working with has a state license. You can call the TDI Help Line at 800-252-3439 or look up the agent on TDI’s website, www.tdi.texas.gov/agent/agent-lookup.html.
- Be wary of buying a policy from anyone who only accepts cash or who wants to meet you only at your home or in a parking lot.
- If someone tells you that you must act today or you’ll lose the offer, that’s usually a bad sign. Legitimate insurance plans won’t have purchase deadlines. Don’t be rushed when shopping for insurance.
- After you buy a policy, call the insurance company to confirm that the policy is in your name.
- If you’re asked to cash in an annuity or some other life insurance policy to buy a different annuity or policy, don’t take the bait. Annuities and life insurance products are generally worth more the longer you hold onto them.
Listen to more on stopping insurance fraud in Texas in The Texas Insurance Podcast, featuring Chris Davis of TDI’s Fraud Unit.
View podcast Q&A: What’s insurance fraud?
Learn more
- Advertisement -
