Insurance Agent Charged with 74 Counts for Forging Life insurance Applications
North Carolina authorities have charged a Battleboro insurance agent with 74 counts after they said he forged Life insurance applications for 16 people. Jonathan Michael Vlasak, 35, a licensed producer qualified to sell property, casualty, life, and accident insurance, allegedly took out Life insurance policies on the individuals and attempted to obtain funds from Occidental Life insurance Co. and Americo Life insurance.
The North Carolina Department of Insurance reported that Vlasak’s scheme involved trying to secure $8,200 from Occidental Life insurance Co. and $3,750 from Americo Life insurance. Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey commended the department’s agents for uncovering the fraudulent activity, stating, “Consumers need to be extra vigilant to protect sensitive information such as this from getting into the hands of the wrong person.”
Investigators with the department charged Vlasak with 25 counts of forgery, 25 counts of identity theft, 22 counts of obtaining property by false pretenses, and two counts of attempting to obtain property, all of which are felonies. Vlasak was arrested this week and released on a $100,000 bond.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ license-check site shows that Vlasak has been licensed since 2017 and is currently appointed with seven life insurers, excluding Occidental and Americo. Despite his licensure, Vlasak could not be reached for comment at the phone number listed on the license lookup page.
This incident marks the second arrest this week of a Southeastern U.S. insurance agent allegedly attempting to forge policy applications with Americo. In Florida, authorities charged a Fort Myers producer with writing Life insurance policies on a person without their consent and fraudulently using the person’s identification information.
The case serves as a reminder for consumers to be cautious with their personal information and to verify the legitimacy of insurance transactions. It also highlights the importance of regulatory oversight in the insurance industry to prevent fraudulent activities.
As the investigation unfolds, it will be crucial for authorities to determine the extent of the damage caused by Vlasak’s actions and to ensure that affected individuals are protected. The insurance industry relies on trust and integrity, and incidents like this can erode consumer confidence in the sector.
In conclusion, the charges against Jonathan Michael Vlasak underscore the need for vigilance in the insurance industry and the importance of regulatory enforcement to maintain the integrity of the market. Consumers should remain cautious and verify the legitimacy of insurance transactions to protect themselves from potential fraud.