Houston woman accused of using stolen IDs to make $300K in fraudulent claims

A Houston woman has been accused of engaging in fraudulent activities by using stolen personal information, including names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers, to file over $300,000 in bogus insurance claims.

Ariana York, the suspect, is alleged to have possessed information belonging to 21 individuals and submitted claims to three different insurance companies. Despite her arrest in December, prosecutors continue to add new charges to the case. The investigation involves multiple agencies, including the Texas Department of Insurance and the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

In a separate case, York and an individual identified as Edmond Herron are facing charges related to fraudulent insurance practices with two other insurance companies. Prosecutors claim that between 2019 and 2022, the pair utilized fake IDs to acquire new insurance policies and subsequently filed over $133,000 worth of deceitful claims.

Authorities discovered discrepancies, such as instances where the vehicles supposedly involved in accidents were found to be unsold on car lots during the reported incidents. Moreover, insurance payouts were sometimes directed to FBS Collision, a business owned by Herron, which is now defunct.

To protect against identity theft, the National Insurance Crime Bureau offers the following advice:

– Destroy personal financial documents before disposal.
– Avoid printing personal identifiers, such as Social Security numbers, on checks.
– Limit the use of Social Security numbers to necessary situations.
– Verify the security of websites before sharing personal information online.
– Ignore emails requesting personal information, and verify authenticity by contacting your insurance representative directly.
– Refrain from disclosing personal or financial details to unknown callers, and verify the legitimacy of calls with your insurer.
– Monitor billing cycles for any irregularities.
– Review financial statements regularly for unauthorized transactions.
– Obtain a copy of your credit report annually to check for errors.
– Minimize the number of credit cards and personal identification items carried.
– Inquire about the intended use of personal information before sharing it, whether online or in person.