Scams seem to come in all different shapes and sizes these days. Whether your grandma is getting called to “help” her grandson with a credit card over the phone or fraudulent charges are noted on your bank account, scams are a real part of our world today. Inform your family and work with an industry partner you trust to protect you.
Understand What Coverage You are Buying
Those who purchase the cheapest insurance they can find on the internet learn quickly what coverage they are missing when something happens. In the time when insurance should provide you peace of mind, those who purchased for cheap quickly learn they lack the essential coverage needed. This is why we at Harmoning Agency believe in making sure you know what you are buying.
If you don’t understand what you need or what you are purchasing, your trusted agent will teach you how to properly purchase the protection you need. If you needed a vehicle to occasionally haul larger items, you may purchase a pickup truck but you sure wouldn’t purchase a sports car or a sedan to accomplish this. They may be both vehicles but their purposes aren’t the same. It’s a similar comparison to auto insurance. Do you have what you need?
If your tooth hurts, do you Google the cheapest doctor? What if they turn out to be a veterinarian? Or a podiatrist? But they are all doctors. Here at Harmoning Agency we are educated professionals who take great pride in educating our customers in what protection is available for them and how it may apply to their lives.
Examples of Fraud to Watch Out For
Fraudulent Contractors
Many of us have heard stories about a whole town getting hit by a storm that caused roof and siding damage. Before long, contractors come out of the woodwork to help get your place back in shape. Avoid finding a fraudulent contractor by doing the following:
- Wait to hire a contractor until your insurance adjuster has reviewed your damage - anything fixed prior may not be included in the claim and would be paid out of pocket.
- Research contractors - Contractors coming into town for fraudulent behavior will require immediate sign-on and cash-down payments. Make sure to get more than one estimate, research your contractor and get a signed contract before payment.
Exaggerated Car Accident
When a police report is not filed in a car accident, it’s your word against the other person’s. Make sure to collect all of the information and photos. Get a head count of everyone involved including names of drivers and passengers. If there are any witnesses, make sure to get their information and names as well.
Digital Fraud
According to Astra, “There are 1.7 million ransomware attacks every day, which means every second there are 19 ransomware attacks.” Fraudsters target your email and cell phone through phishing, spoofing, spam and robocalls as a way to steal your personal information. As a rule of thumb, don’t open emails, answer phone calls or respond to text messages from people you don’t know. Anyone that needs to get a hold of you whom you don’t know will leave a message and not ask for personal information over the phone.
Protect Yourself with An Insurance Agent You Trust
When you think you may be the target for an insurance scam, stop in or give the Harmoning Agency a call. We are here to guide you through all things insurance to ensure you understand what you are buying and get the coverage you need.