(Woodland, CA) – January 10, 2020 – On January 7, 2020, 53-year-old Woodland man, Mubasher Mahmood, was convicted of filing a fraudulent auto insurance claim.
On February 6, 2017, Mubasher Mahmood falsely reported to Woodland Police Department he had been carjacked on Colfax Drive in Woodland and his 2015 Nissan Versa had been stolen. Mahmood then filed a claim with 21st Century Insurance for the loss of his vehicle.
During an investigation by the insurance company’s Special Investigation Unit, it was determined the vehicle was left at a repair shop for repairs several months prior. 21st Century Insurance denied this claim since Mahmood misrepresented material facts during the presentation of the claim.
On July 25, 2017, the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office Auto Insurance Fraud Division launched an investigation into the claim which Mahmood filed. The DA’s Office believed Mahmood committed insurance fraud by reporting a fraudulent claim to 21st Century Insurance Company with the hope of receiving an insurance payout. The Office also concluded Mahmood falsely reported to Woodland Police he had been carjacked and his Nissan Versa was stolen when in fact the vehicle was left unrepaired at a repair facility where he took the vehicle.
On November 12, 2019, Mahmood entered a no-contest plea to a felony violation of filing a fraudulent auto insurance claim. On January 7, 2020, the Honorable Judge David Rosenberg placed Mahmood on three years formal probation. Mahmood was ordered to serve a total of 90 days in the county jail, and pay restitution of $1,042 to 21st Century Insurance.
Insurance Fraud is the second most costly white-collar crime in America behind tax evasion. Insurance industry studies show that about ten percent or more of property/casualty claims are fraudulent. Add it all up and insurance fraud costs Americans billions of dollars each year. District Attorney Jeff Reisig stated that “Filing false insurance claims and insurance fraud have an effect on the rising cost of auto insurance for everyone. We are committed to investigating and prosecuting this type of fraud in our community.”
If you suspect someone is committing Auto Insurance Fraud please contact the DA’s Fraud Hotline phone number at (855) 496-5632. Reports of suspected fraud can also be made online at www.yoloda.org. The District Attorney’s Office also has a Fraud Reporting E-mail Address: Fraud@yoloda.org.
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