NC Insurance Department and Farm Bureau Uncover Roofing Insurance Fraud Sting

The North Carolina Department of Insurance, in collaboration with Farm Bureau's Special Investigations Unit, conducted a sting operation targeting fraudulent roofing claims. The operation led to the arrest of Robert Allen Bentley, a senior project manager at a roofing company, charged with felony insurance fraud among other offenses. Bentley and a co-conspirator allegedly damaged a roof deliberately to file a false $30,000 insurance claim with North Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance Group, misrepresenting the damages as caused by natural weather events. This case highlights ongoing insurance fraud risks within the roofing sector, which adversely impact insurance providers and policyholders through increased premiums. The investigation utilized a bait house strategy, engineering expertise, and surveillance to detect intentional property damage used to support bogus claims. Both state insurance officials and insurers remain vigilant and encourage the reporting of suspected fraud to bolster efforts against white-collar crimes in the insurance industry. The collaborative sting reflects heightened regulatory and insurer cooperation to identify and prosecute fraudulent activities effectively within the property insurance market.