Beware of this ongoing scam affecting consumers shopping for insurance

Scammers impersonate insurance brokers to steal money from you. Be wary of who you are talking to. Work directly with your carrier or their appointed agents to avoid scammers.

Here are some red flags to look out for:

• Advertisements that do not look professional
• Phone numbers or email addresses that do not match the carrier’s official contact information
• Requests for payment just for getting a quote
• Ads that offer deals that seem too good to be true

Protect yourself with these safe shopping tips:

• Go directly to the insurance carrier’s website to obtain their phone number
• Use the insurance carrier’s online quote features, contact center representatives, or appointed agents to obtain a quote
• Pay your insurance premiums directly to the insurance carrier, not a broker
• Check that anyone attempting to contact you regarding your insurance policy is a licensed representative of your carrier, using a legitimate phone number or email address