A Liverpool insurance claims representative is accused of insurance fraud.
40-year-old Scott Wood, of Liverpool, is accused of stealing $44,900 that should have been paid as part of an insurance settlement to a St. Lawrence County man whose home was destroyed by fire in 2009.
The investigation started when the home's owner contacted Nationwide Insurance Company about his claim settlement. The homeowner told the insurance company that Wood, a Nationwide employee, contacted him after the homeowner was paid about $300,000 for the loss. The homeowner said he thought the claim had been settled and the money he received was the extent of what the insurer would pay him.
The homeowner got suspicious though when Wood told him he could get more money if the he used the services of a lawyer Wood knew. He said Wood told him he would be expected to split any additional money he received with the lawyer. The homeowner says he agreed to the offer, but doubted he would get any additional money from the insurer.
Several weeks later, Wood appeared at the man's home with a check from Nationwide for $89,8000 made payable to the homeowner. As a claims representative, Wood was authorized to settle claims and write settlement checks on behalf of the insurer.
Wood told the homeowner that since the lawyer wanted to keep his name out of the case, the homeowner needed to write a personal check to Wood for half of the money and that the homeowner could keep the other half. Wood also told him that he should deny the transaction ever occurred if he was contacted by the insurer.
The homeowner contacted Nationwide after meeting with Wood and giving him a check for $44,900. The insurer then notified the Insurance Department's Frauds Bureau.
Wood was fired by Nationwide after investigators learned he had cashed the homeowner's check for $44,900 and deposited the money into his personal bank account.
Nationwide has paid the homeowner the portion of the claim settlement Wood is accused of taking.
Wood is charged with grand larceny. He is due in DeWitt Town Court on May 4th. If convicted, he faces seven years in prison.
