Avoiding Scams / Agent Fraud
Three fast red flags for agent fraud
The large majority of agents do exactly what they should: match you to coverage fast, file your application correctly, and get your documents into your hands without delay. A small minority don't, and the tells are specific enough to check for in seconds — worth scanning before you're mid-application, not after.
Red flag #1: they want the check made out to them
Your payment goes to the insurance company — full stop, never to an individual agent, never in cash. Any pitch to pay the agent directly "to save a step" or "to move things faster" has zero legitimate justification behind it. It's also the fastest route for someone to collect your money while no actual policy ever gets written.
Red flag #2: they want you to sign something incomplete
Never sign a form with blank fields on the promise it'll get "filled in later." A signature on an incomplete application hands someone else the ability to write in whatever they choose afterward — including health answers that can determine whether a future claim actually pays out. Confirm every applicable field is complete before you sign, not after.
Red flag #3: they stall on giving you your own copies
You're entitled to the actual signed document, immediately — not a summary, not a verbal rundown. An agent who drags their feet, gets vague about it, or implies you don't really need your own copy is showing you a real problem. Keep every signed document on file for as long as the policy is active; it costs you nothing and protects you completely.
Spotted one of these? Here's your fastest move
Contact the carrier directly — using contact info you look up yourself, not a number the agent handed you — and ask them to confirm a policy exists in your name with your payment correctly applied. Our guide to verifying a company is legitimate shows you exactly how to pull that information up on your own. If anything's off, or you can't get a straight answer, file a complaint with your state's department of insurance — the same regulator who issued the agent's license. That's precisely what the office exists to investigate, and you don't need proof lined up before filing, just a clear, specific account of what happened.