CONSUMERS TARGETED BY CRIMINALS SENDING FRAUDULENT ROCKFORD MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY CHECKS

ROCKFORD, Illinois – Criminals circulating fraudulent checks have been targeting consumers using online recruiting websites to purchase office supplies and equipment. Rockford Mutual Insurance Company (RMIC) has been contacted by several individuals inquiring about checks they received which appeared to be from Rockford Mutual. RMIC’s Fraud Investigation Unit investigated these inquiries and discovered they were in fact fraudulent.

“The fake checks created by these criminals are extremely sophisticated,” said William Hanby, Chief Information Officer for Rockford Mutual. “The checks look like real checks from a business, notifying individuals to use it to purchase supplies and then send a personal check or gift card back for the excess amount that wasn’t spent. Due to the turnaround time it takes for a bank to detect a fraudulent check, these criminals are able to secure the funds from the victim prior to being detected. Rockford Mutual’s Special Investigation Unit is reviewing these reports and wants to make consumers aware of this issue.” RMIC encourages anyone who receives a suspicious check that appears to come from Rockford Mutual Insurance Company to their Fraud Hotline at 1-800-610-6437.

Insurance companies, other financial institutions, and their consumers are frequent targets of fraudsters. RMIC and other insurers partner through the National Insurance Crime Bureau and the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud to prevent scams such as ones involving fake checks. The Coalition’s website features ways consumers can protect themselves and help lower insurance costs by reporting suspected insurance fraud.  Another resource for consumers is the Federal Trade Commission’s website and the FBI website. The FBI wants all fraud attempts (even if a loss is not incurred) to be entered on this website.