State Warns Oregonians About Insurance Scam

Oregonians are being warned by the state's Department of Consumer and Business Services about a group of possibly California-based people selling fraudulent insurance policies.

The department says they uncovered the scam after being notified by an Oregon transportation company that they discovered the policy they thought they had bought did not exist.

The company, whose name is not being released, told investigators that hey had purchased commercial auto and cargo insurance online and paid $20,000 in premiums over the past four years.

They received invoices and certificates of coverage via email.

It turns out that the certificates were fake and the premiums had been deposited into a bank in Pakistan.

Investigators with the department believe that the people the transportation company dealt with were a man named Umer M. Masood who also goes by the name Josh Capello, and Ahmed Salem. They operate three companies - Proactive Indemnify Corporation, Proactive Financial Services, and ContingentCargo Company.

The companies claim their primary place of business is Los Angeles but there are no registered businesses with those names in California, according to investigators.

There are no companies by those names registered to sell insurance in Oregon.

The department went to court and got an order that they stop selling fake insurance and fined the companies $120,000.

Investigators believe there may be more victims out there and if anyone did business with Josh Capello, Ahmed Salam, Proactive Indemnity, Proactive Financial, or ContingentCargo Co. or if anyone has information about them to please call the department at 888-877-4894.

To check a license online or get help with a concern or a question, go to dfr.oregon.gov or call 888-877-4894.