Not a Bear But a Fake Deer-Collision Claim Results in South Carolina Fraud Charges

First it was the fake bear insurance fraud that made headlines around the country. Now, it’s a fake deer that has landed a South Carolina woman in jail after authorities said she provided false information to a Progressive Insurance company.

Queen Viola Arthur, 33, of Hartsville, was charged with filing a false auto insurance claim that said her car was damaged when she hit a deer on the road. But Progressive denied the claim after determining that metadata in the digital photographs the woman submitted proved the pictures had been shot before the alleged incident occurred and before her policy period began, the arrest warrant shows.

South Carolina Law Enforcement Division investigators, acting at the behest of the state Department of Insurance, said the alleged fraud occurred in October 2023. She was arrested earlier this month and was released on bond.

“Arthur told Progressive that her vehicle had no prior unrepaired damage,” the warrant notes. “Arthur attempted to gain an undeserved economic advantage by presenting a false claim totaling $2,014.”

The woman acknowledged at least some of the allegations, the warrant said.

The deer claim came two months after four Los Angeles residents were charged with insurance fraud after claiming that a bear had caused more than $141,000 in damage to their vehicles. Video footage was reviewed and insurance investigators determined it was not a real bear, but a guy in a bear costume.

Topics Fraud