ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Some Orange County drivers thought they were getting a great deal on auto insurance. But instead, they ended up getting scammed.
State insurance fraud investigators said they busted a woman posing as an insurance agent.
For drivers who are searching for a good bargain, Capt. Angelina Brooks with the State Division of Insurance Fraud has a warning.
"Anytime you purchase insurance and the price is too good to be true, it's probably not true," Brooks said.
At least nine Central Florida drivers found that out the hard way.
Investigators said Melissa Vega promised great deals by offering what she called a "friends and family discount."
The problem was that discount was part of an elaborate scheme.
"It does not exist, Miss Vega is not a licensed agent. She's not attached to any insurance agency that we know of," said Brooks.
Vega was arrested on fraud and grand theft charges, but has since bonded out of jail.
No one answered at Vega's last known address.
But according to fraud investigators, once Vega took their money, she would sign up for policies online though companies like State Farm, First Acceptance and Infinity Insurance.
The victims would get temporary insurance cards and recommend Vega to friends.
But it turned out that Vega was keeping hundreds of dollars from each of the victims and wasn't paying for the policies.
Then a month or so down the line, insurance companies would contact the victims letting them know their policies were canceled for non-payment.
"For the victims, they're under the impression that they have insurance, and God forbid that they get into an accident, no one's covered," Brooks said.
The Division of Insurance Fraud said to make sure drivers use a reputable insurance agent.