Oregon Companies Hit With Big Business Insurance Scam

Oregon officials are working with federal agencies to investigate after an Oregon company found the business insurance they purchased, and had made payments on for four years, didn't exist.

The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services launched the investigation after an Oregon transportation company found it's insurance was in fact non-existent.

The transportation company was not named by officials, but they apparently had purchased through a company calling itself Proactive Indemnity. The company has also been selling fraudulent insurance under the names of Proactive Financial Services, and Contingent Cargo Company.

Officials say for at least the last four years or more, this 'company' has likely sold fake insurance policies, complete with official-looking papers and certifications to a number of businesses in Oregon and the West Coast.

The transportation company paid more than $20,000 in premiums, but recently needed to file a claim and found their certificates were fake.  Authorities are looking for two men, Umer M. Massood, aka Josh Capello, and Ahmed Salam, who are believed to be Pakistanis.

Officials found the money paid by the transportation company was deposited in overseas banks in Pakistan. Oregon officials are now asking businesses who may have dealt with companies under these names, or these two men, to notify them immediately, according to officials:

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

They urge any business, or individual, to check out insurance companies before they buy, especially if they're not companies that are familiar. It initially appears the two men targeted larger businesses because they are easier targets and spend more for business insurance.

Oregon authorities fully expect to find more businesses who have been affected by these two men.