Allegations that some roofers deliberately damage roofs in order to qualify properties for insurance claims have long been a concern for insurers. This fall, the North Carolina Department of Insurance and North Carolina Farm Bureau decided to do something about it.
The NCDOI and Farm Bureau worked together on a sting operation in Wake County, setting up a “bait house,” then asking roofing companies to take a look, and recording the roofers’ actions, the DOI explained in a statement last week.
The sting reportedly worked as intended. Authorities charged Robert Allen Bentley, 36, of Charlotte, a senior project manager with A&M Premier Roofing and Construction, on Dec. 10 was charged with insurance fraud after investigators allegedly observed him and a co-worker damaging and bending roof shingles at the house.
The roof company then claimed the damage was caused by wind and hail and attempted to gain $30,000 in an insurance claim with Farm Bureau, state Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey said in a statement.
“Roofing scams are serious crimes, and I want to thank Farm Bureau for partnering with the Department’s special agents in this two-month investigation,” Causey said. “Roof scammers should be on alert that our special agents as well as insurance companies are active in efforts to make a dent in this crime, which costs insurance companies and homeowners’ insurance premium payers alike.”
Farm Bureau’s North Carolina president, Shawn Harding, said such fraud leads to higher premiums for homeowners.
“That’s why we partnered with Commissioner Causey and the Department of Insurance in this successful sting operation,” Harding said in a news release. “We’re pleased that the individuals charged are being held accountable, and we look forward to continuing to work with the Commissioner and the Department to prevent and deter fraud in the roofing industry.”
Investigators employed an engineering expert, advanced surveillance techniques and “good old-fashioned police work” to build the case against the roof workers, DOI explained.
A&M Premier Roofing and Construction is a veteran-owned limited liability corporation with offices in Raleigh and three other cities, according to North Carolina Secretary of State records and the firm’s website. In 2023, the company was named Raleigh’s best roofing company by the Raleigh newspaper, the firm noted on its Linkedin page and website.
The president of A&M Premier Roofing and Construction issued a statement, saying that the roof worker charged last week was an independent contractor who had left the company before the arrest was made. He noted that A&M’s independent contractor agreement outlines ethical conduct by contractors.
“Our agreement states unequivocally that creating or manufacturing damage of any kind is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate termination of the contractor relationship. A&M Premier does not condone unethical practices under any circumstances, as they directly conflict with our training, standards of conduct, and company values,” A&M President Del Scheitler said in an emailed statement.
“The alleged actions of a single independent contractor do not represent our organization or the high standards we uphold,” Scheitler said.
Photo: Possible roof damage and missing shingles (AdobeStock)
Read More About How the Sting Operation Came About
Speaking of Damaged Shingles: Beware the Rise in Unproven Brittleness Test for Roof Claims
Topics North Carolina
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