Nobody’s Above the Law - Seattle Celebrity Busted for Car Insurance Fraud

Mike Webb was on top of the world. He was making good money as a popular talk-show host in Seattle, and he had a fancy new Lexus to drive around the Emerald City. But like many celebrities, Webb thought he was above the law - and he was greedy. Rather than ponying up a little extra money each month for comprehensive car insurance, Webb decided he would take his chances. But when he was involved in an accident and sustained $6,000 of damage to his precious Lexus, Webb regretted his penny-pinching ways. The other driver in the crash had no insurance, and under Seattle law, this meant that the responsibility for the damages fell on Webb and his comprehensive coverage. So what did Webb do?

Webb of Deceit - Car Insurance Crime Doesn't Pay

The following day, Webb purchased comprehensive coverage and then submitted a claim. Did he actually think that his car insurance company was this stupid? Apparently so, and judging by the number of Americans who try similarly pathetic ploys each year, a lot of people share Webb's dim view of car insurance agents.

Not surprisingly, Webb's insurer saw right through his fraudulent attempt and denied his claim. But Webb then forged bank records and payment receipts in an effort to convince them that he had actually paid for his comprehensive coverage prior to the accident - after all, he was a celebrity!

Insanity is No Excuse - Nor is a 'Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy'

At this point, Webb's insurer contacted the authorities. He was tried for car insurance fraud, be a mistrial had to be declared after Webb had a nervous breakdown in front of his original jury. Still, he wasn't let off the hook, and eventually, a new jury was selected. Then on February 2, 2007, Mike Webb was found guilty. He was given a suspended 30-day jail sentence, a $1000 fine, and ordered to perform 240 hours of community service.

But was Webb repentant for his actions? No - he still insists on his innocence, now claiming that conservative listeners of his talk show, enraged by his liberal views, set him up. His exact quote was, "This may sound like the rants of some wacko, but what I believe happened is that there was a hacker who has been regularly hacking me." Maybe it was the Priory of Sion or the Opus Dei. Fortunately, Webb was also ordered to continue his mental-health treatment.

Car Insurance Fraud Costs Everyone

In recent months, states across the country have been cracking down on car insurance fraudsters. This is because when criminals like Mike Webb commit fraud, they're not really hurting the multi-billion-dollar car insurance companies - they're hurting the customers of those companies. The companies will just adjust their rates higher in order to make up for fraud, meaning you get stuck with a jerk like Webb's bill.

In other words, car insurance fraud is far from a victimless crime, and if you're ever asked to participate in a fraudulent scheme, by all means, just say no. In fact, alerting the authorities is really the right thing to do. Don't be tempted by the promise of a few hundred dollars - maybe Webb did get off easy with 240 hours of community service, but if you're not a celebrity, you may not be so lucky. Going to jail over a stupid car insurance scheme is one thing that liberals and conservatives can agree on - it's a bad idea.