The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) today issued a warning to the public about an organized scam involving sales of vehicles through the popular online market place, Craigslist.
Working with law enforcement agencies in the Chicago area and across the Midwest, NICB has identified nearly 100 instances of sales of vehicles that went sour when phony bank checks were used to pay for the vehicle.
“These scams are well organized and have all the appearances of being legitimate,” said NICB President and CEO Joe Wehrle. “But in the end, the criminal gets the car and the sellers or their financial institutions are left on the hook for thousands of dollars still owed on the car.”
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7523151-nicb-craigslist-auto-sales-scam/
Three more midsize SUVs achieved good or acceptable ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in the latest round of small overlap front crash testing, but many models, including three newly rated SUVs from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and one from Hyundai, continue to struggle with the test.
The recent flooding in Texas means the end of the road for an estimated 7,000 to 10,000 insured vehicles that suffered water damage.
That’s the current estimate from Copart, a company that works on behalf of insurers to handle the vehicles damaged in catastrophes. About 2,500 cars, trucks, motorcycles, RVs and other vehicles have already been towed to one of Copart’s locations, a 200-acre processing facility in Houston.
After a disaster, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) works with its member companies, law enforcement and companies like Copart to identify the vehicles that have had an insurance claim filed and to process them for sale. All of the cars will be retitled with the Department of Motor Vehicles and the new title will indicate the fact that the vehicle has been flood damaged. Most of the vehicles are sold to parts companies who will dismantle them and re-sell usable parts that were not damaged by the flooding.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7523152-nicb-texas-floods/
Only 3 vehicles of more than 100 evaluated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety have child restraint installation hardware that earns a good rating for ease of use, while more than half have hardware that is poor or marginal.
The Institute's new LATCH ratings will serve as a resource for families looking for a vehicle that makes it easy to transport their children safely. They also are intended to encourage vehicle manufacturers to pay attention to this equipment and make improvements. Properly installed, age-appropriate child restraints provide considerably more protection for children in crashes than safety belts alone. However, observational studies have found that parents and caregivers often fail to secure them tightly or make other installation mistakes.
LATCH, which stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children, is intended to make it easier to install a child seat properly. It works: Child restraints installed with LATCH, rather than with vehicle safety belts, are more likely to be installed correctly, research has shown. But in many vehicles, LATCH hardware could be better. Parents are more likely to install the seat correctly when the LATCH hardware meets certain key ease-of-use criteria.
While car thefts are declining across the country, the thefts of some parts and accessories are proving to be a lucrative business for professional thieves.
In the Detroit area, it’s become a huge problem that’s costing consumers, insurance companies, car dealers and car rental companies.
“We hear all this good news about auto theft being down in Michigan, but unfortunately, what’s replaced that is component theft,” said Terri Miller, executive director of Help Eliminate Auto Thefts (HEAT). “Because it’s harder to steal an entire vehicle these days, they’re stealing the parts. The tires and rims are not marked and they are very, very marketable.”
To view the Multimedia News Release, go http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7523153-nicb-detroit-wheel-tire-theft/
Lightning may not seem as destructive as other natural disasters, yet a strike can cause serious damage to business equipment and electrical appliances, disrupt electrical service for long periods of time, and spark wildfires. In 2014, State Farm paid nearly $149 million dollars for insurance claims as a result of damage from lightning strikes.
June, July, and August are the times of year when lightning is most frequent. Even though lightning is weather-related and not a preventable event, there are ways to reduce your chance of damage from a power surge or fire. That is why State Farm has joined forces with the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) in recognition of Lightning Awareness Week, June 21-27.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7452831-state-farm-weather-preparedness/
Watch this video from NRMA, for top tips on how car drivers can safely share the roads with motorcyclists.
NRMA offer comprehensive car and motorcycle insurance, providing you with cover for your bike or car against accidental damage, collusion and crashes.
In NSW, lane filtering became legal as of 1st July 2014. In heavy traffic on multi-lane roads, riders often filter between the lanes. It can be an efficient way to for cars and motorcycles to share the roads.
Accidents happen and if you drive a vehicle on the road, whether it is a car or motorcycle, then NRMA car or motorcycle insurance could cover someone else’s property and your vehicle.
Get a motorcycle or car insurance quote from NRMA today.
http://www.nrma.com.au/motorcycle-insurance
Watch this video by NRMA for top tips on motorcycle lane filtering, to keep you safe and moving on NSW roads.
NRMA offer comprehensive motorbike insurance, providing you with cover for your bike against any accidental damage, collision or crashes.
In NSW, lane filtering became legal as of the 1st July 2014. In heavy traffic on multi-lane roads, riders often filter between the lanes. It can be an efficient way to road your motorcycle when done correctly.
1. When you are lane-filtering look out for drivers on both sides.
2. Watch for body language as an indication that they are about to change lanes.
3. Get your speed right. While it may be legal to travel at 30km an hour, it may not be safe to do so.
4. Never ride to the left of a vehicle; it puts you at risk of a collision with a vehicle entering a driveway.
5. Be aware of circumstances where it is still illegal to filter lanes, this includes active school zones.
Accidents happen and if you ride a motorbike or scooter then a motorcycle insurance policy could cover someone else’s property and your motorcycle, should you have an accident.
http://www.nrma.com.au/motorcycle-insurance
Did you know that slamming doors could affect the structural stability of your house?
Watch this video from NRMA for a simple tip on how to stop your doors from slamming in your home.
NRMA offers Home Buildings insurance if your home is damaged or destroyed. Why not compare our building insurance policies and find the one that will best suit you and your home?
Get in touch today for more information or a home insurance quote.
http://www.nrma.com.au/home-insurance
Struggling from clogged drains?
Watch this video from NRMA and learn how to unclog your drains by using two standard items in your kitchen pantry.
Your blocked drains can go from bad to worse very fast. That’s why NRMA’s home and contents insurance policy has you covered for potential loss & damage of carpets.
Whether damage is the result of an overflowing river or a burst water pipe, it’s important to understand the different types of floods and other water-related events and how they’re covered under your insurance policy.
Read more about the different types of water damage and how NRMA Insurance covers them.
http://www.nrma.com.au/what-is-a-flood
Watch this video for a helpful tip on how to remove dings from your wooden furniture. Rub a walnut over the damaged area and watch as the area begins to darken.
Sometimes accidents happen at home, furniture and furnishings are damaged and equipment gets broken. NRMA Home and Contents Insurance is there to cover for you for life’s little accidents
Home and Contents Insurance provides you with new for old replacement for items, such as whitegoods, furniture, TVs, computer equipment, clothing and more. Visit the website today for more information on what is covered.
http://www.nrma.com.au/home-insurance
A new advertising campaign from American Home Shield, the nation’s largest provider of home warranties, showcases the costly risk faced by millions of homeowners who may not fully understand the differences between homeowners insurance and home warranties, which protect consumers against potentially budget-busting covered breakdowns to their home systems and appliances.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7579651-servicemaster-american-home-shield/
