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SCAM ALERT - NEVADA COMMISSIONER WARNS INSURANCE AGENTS, BROKERS ABOUT SCAM

06/03/09 - CARSON CITY, Nev. – Nevada Insurance Commissioner Scott Kipper warns Nevada licensed insurance agents and brokers to beware of a scam targeting them.

The Nevada Division of Insurance has received reports this morning that individuals have been calling licensed insurance agencies and representing themselves as employees of the Nevada Division of Insurance. These individuals, pretending to be Nevada Division of Insurance employees, have requested payment for a penalty fee. The same individuals also requested that the insurance agencies provide credit card and social security information over the telephone to make the penalty payment and to avoid cancellation of their license.

Commissioner Kipper warns all agents and brokers that these individuals are NOT employees of the Nevada Division of Insurance and are attempting to scam insurance agencies for financial gain. It is not the policy, practice or procedure for the Nevada Division of Insurance to request credit card or social security information over the telephone, with regards to a payment.

If agents and brokers receive a telephone call requesting this information, they are advised not to provide the caller with any personal information including credit card or social security numbers, as the Nevada Division of Insurance will always be able to provide written confirmation regarding any payment request. They also should contact the local law enforcement agency as well as the Nevada Division of Insurance at (775) 687-4270 in Carson City, (702) 486-4009 in Las Vegas, or toll free at 1 (800) 992-0900.

Enforcement officials are actively investigating this scam, which was also reported as occurring yesterday in California, in which the fraudulent calls were made to fictitiously represent the California Department of Insurance.

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