In recent weeks, the Department of Financial Services has announced actions against several insurance agents who stole hard-earned money from their customers, including a dozen agents who “slid” hundreds of dollars in unwanted and unnecessary coverage to auto insurance buyers.

Consumers can protect themselves from insurance scams by:

• Making sure that the insurance company selling the product is authorized to do business in Florida.
• Making sure that the insurance agent is authorized to sell insurance products in Florida.
• Reading and understanding all documents before signing to make sure that the coverage you want – and only the coverage you want – is being sold to you.
• Writing the premium check to the insurance company, not the insurance agent.
• Verifying that the insurance coverage has been placed by following up with the insurance company after signing a contract with your agent. This step is important no matter how long you have been doing business with an agent.
   

GALLAGHER URGES CONTRACTORS TO SIGN UP TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MY SAFE FLORIDA HOME PROGRAM

Tom Gallagher, Florida’s chief financial officer, has announced that licensed contractors who do retrofit improvements can now apply on-line to participate in the My Safe Florida Home program. The application to participate is available under "For Contractors" at www.mysafefloridahome.com.

“Our mission is to strengthen homes in Florida against the devastating effects of storm damage,” said Gallagher, who oversees the Department of Financial Services. “Contractors who participate in this program will play a key role in better protecting families and properties from catastrophic losses.”

Prior to participating, a contractor must have a valid contractor’s license and complete a four-hour course on techniques and standards for effective wind-resistant retrofit improvements. The Department of Financial Services has been working with the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) to offer these courses around the state over the next few months. The first class, which is approved by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation for four continuing education credits, was conducted on August 29th in St. Petersburg.

“The Blueprint for Safety Retrofit training courses will expand the team of qualified, ready builders who can provide essential hurricane-hardening services to Floridians through the My Safe Florida Home program,” said FLASH President and CEO Leslie Chapman-Henderson. CONTINUED

GALLAGHER REVOKES LICENSE OF AGENT WHO STOLE PREMIUMS FROM A NURSING HOME AND OTHER BUSINESSES

Tom Gallagher, Florida’s chief financial officer, has revoked the license of an Altamonte Springs insurance agent who stole more than $300,000 in premiums from a nursing home and various other businesses throughout central and southwest Florida.

Brian Alan King, 58, served as an officer and director of Florida Corporate Insurers, Inc., located at 225 South Westmonte Dr. in Altamonte Springs. An investigation by the Department of Financial Services’ Division of Agent and Agency Services, Bureau of Investigation, determined that King misappropriated the money from July 2005 through April 2006. The agency closed in June 2006.

“Any agent who puts his clients at risk for his own personal gain should be banned from working in this industry,” said Gallagher, who oversees the Department of Financial Services. “I commend the investigators who worked quickly to protect these businesses from further harm. We will continue to aggressively pursue anyone who tries to take advantage of our citizens.” CONTINUED

Governor Bush has proclaimed September 2006 as "Florida Preparedness Month". During the month of September, events will be held across Florida to raise awareness on the importance of preparing for all hazards - from natural disasters to domestic security threats. Every Floridian should have a family disaster plan and disaster supply kit. Prepared residents enable government to focus on the needs of Florida's most vulnerable populations.

The Hoover Institution's Koret Task Force declared education reform in Florida is producing noticeable learning gains for students.

Coming on the heels of their findings, the Manhattan Institute's second-year data released also confirms the outstanding results retention policies and education reforms are having in Florida. Their findings are an affirmation of what Florida has known for some time: when schools are made accountable for student achievement, students learn and schools improve.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has become aware of e-mails appearing to be from the FDIC asking recipients to register for a "SON – Secure Online Network" code. The e-mail requests that recipients click on a hyperlink to initiate "SON" registration in an attempt to acquire the recipients' personal financial information. These e-mails are fraudulent and were not sent by the FDIC. Financial institutions and consumers should NOT access the link provided within the body of these e-mails and should NOT, under any circumstances, provide any personal financial information through this media.

The fraudulent e-mails describe a fictitious relationship between the FDIC and GoldLeaf Financial Solutions and suggest that the FDIC collaborated in the development of SON. The e-mails state that "SON":

• is "dedicated to protect payment cards against online fraud";
• "assigns a unique code to a payment card, therefore replacing random parts of the personal information"; and
• is "required for FDIC claims as it is part of the FDIC's new set of standards."  CONTINUED