ICYMI: Florida Politics: “Officials use Orlando man, attempted insurance fraud, as example of abuse”

“Officials use Orlando man, attempted insurance fraud, as example of abuse”
Florida Politics
Story by Les Neuhaus
March 22, 2017
Click HERE to read the full story
Orange County and state officials are making an example of a man who attempted to collect a bogus insurance claim on his car after reporting it stolen, accusing him of arson and insurance fraud.
Michael Abrams, 43, is now held on $50,000 bond in an Orange County detention facility, a statement said Wednesday.
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He stands accused of devising a plan to have his 2016 Toyota Camry stolen and destroyed so that he could collect an insurance payout totaling $10,000, the statement continues.
“More often than not, acts of arson are committed in order to collect insurance payouts or to cover up a larger crime,” said Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater. “To concoct the plan that he did is an elaborate act of fraud — one that undoubtedly drives up the cost of insurance for every Floridian. I’m proud of our investigative team for getting to the truth and putting this man behind bars where he belongs.”
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In early December 2016, a crew from the Orange County Fire Rescue (OCFR) department responded to a vehicular fire. The car had previously reported stolen from New York state by Abrams.
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Suspicious, a supervisor with OCFR reached out to the Florida State Fire Marshall’s Office to investigate the cause and origin of the fire and that’s when Abrams’ story didn’t add up.
After being questioned by investigators, he admitted paying another man $300 to destroy his car while he simultaneously reported it stolen.
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