Husband, Wife Charged with Auto Fraud

September 16, 2002

Hugo Tapia Lopez, 42, and his wife, Angelica Rivera, AKA Angelica Rivera Munoz, 45, of Arbuckle, Calif., were arrested and booked into the Colusa County Jail as the result of an investigation by the CDI’s Criminal Investigations Branch’s Fraud Division.

Lopez’s vehicle was allegedly stolen in Mexico. Since the vehicle was stolen outside of the U.S., Lopez’s insurance policy would not cover his loss. In order to be compensated for the stolen vehicle, Lopez filed a false police report and provided false statements to the California State Automobile Association (CSAA) indicating that his vehicle was stolen in front of his home. Investigators say Lopez later admitted that his vehicle was stolen in Mexico, but claimed it was stolen at his home so CSAA insurance company would cover his loss.

Rivera, who was also insured under the automobile policy, also reportedly provided false statements to investigators and CSAA about the location of loss in order for the vehicle to be covered. CSAA’s potential loss on this claim could have been $10,000.

Topics Auto Fraud

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Insurance Journal Magazine September 16, 2002
September 16, 2002
Insurance Journal Magazine

Agency Management