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Man warns of scam targeting windshields

By Melissa Yeager, WINK News

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Andrew Conley's emailed CALL FOR ACTION hoping we'd tell you about what happened to him. It involved his car windshield, and he thinks it's someone's attempt to make money in our poor economy.

Right away Andrew Conlyn noticed his cracked windshield. "Something hit it here in the lower left hand corner," Conlyn told CALL FOR ACTION, "I can see some paint was chipped and my theory is they came through with a hammer.

He drove to his office, now he wonders if someone followed him.

"I almost immediately got a call. A call like I've never gotten before that said 'if you happen to have a broken windshield and need to get it fixed, we'll fix it for you at no cost to you, just press nine'," Conlyn told WINK.

He suspects someone was trying to make some money off windshield insurance claims.

"I thought it was a bit of a coincidence. Too coincidental to be just a coincidence."

So we asked State Farm Insurance Agent Mike Sullivan.

"It's certainly not anything that would surprise us," said Sullivan.

Sullivan says his agency hasn't had any specific reports of this type of fraud, but he says customers should report anything they see as suspicious.

"Everybody is going to pay in the long run. On average every person individual pays 2 to 300 extra a year because of fraudulent claims," Sullivan told CALL FOR ACTION.

That's why Andrew filed a police report, but no one has been arrested.

If you notice something you think is fraud, insurance agents recommend calling the police.

Thursday, Sep 11 at 2:45 PM Greg wrote ...

OUR INDUSTRY IS LIKE MANY OTHERS, WE ARE EXPERIENCING ROUGH TIMES, BUT I HOPE WE HAVE NOT RESORTED TO TRYING TO PRODUCE OUR OWN WORK LOAD. I HOPE THE CALL WAS JUST BAD TIMING FOR THE GLASS COMPANY. MAYBE THIS IS BEING BLOWN OUT OF PROPORTION. AT LEAST I HOPE SO.

Wednesday, Sep 10 at 7:21 PM Tropic glass wrote ...

As a local auto glass replacement company here in fort myers for over thirty years, we receive automated calls soliciting glass replacement almost daily. These calls are random and computer dialed. It's unfortunate that this person suffered a glass loss, but extremely unlikely that is was broken by a glass comopany. Consumers should cautious, because these calls are made by third party vendors who schedule an appointment and then subcontract out your replacement to the lowest bidder.

Wednesday, Sep 10 at 9:49 AM isabella wrote ...

Did he press 9?

Saturday, Sep 6 at 6:28 PM John Lyon wrote ...

There are no coincidences.

Friday, Sep 5 at 9:30 AM Ira Turner wrote ...

Don't blame a glass shop. With prices in the industry as low as they are, there's not enough money in a windshield replacement to take the time to follow a guy to his office after breaking the glass in order to make an automated call to him. Florida has full insurance on windshield claims and automated calls are not uncommon. It's a curious coincidence, but my bet is that it is only a coincidence. By the way, I'm in New York and have no axe to grind in this matter.

Thursday, Sep 4 at 10:30 PM glassman wrote ...

had to be a coincidence. nothing else. automated call. i think he broke his own windshield just for the attention.

Thursday, Sep 4 at 5:17 PM GlassWoman wrote ...

I agree with Larry. He could have been hit by a rock from a weed wacker while it was parked at home. Just so happens he gets a telemarket phone call regarding glass.

Thursday, Sep 4 at 3:59 PM Neal wrote ...

People vandalize cars all the time, I doubt the glass shop had anything to do with it. Also, how would they know where he works? Anyhow, I work at an auto glass shop and even we get solicited by other shops wanting to know if I have any broken windshields. Occam's razor: "All other things being equal, the simplest solution is the best."

Wednesday, Sep 3 at 7:30 PM Larry diesbach wrote ...

Sounds like DUMB luck to me, and somone who does not pay attention to their vehicle. If it was automated, why did he not press 9 and get the name & number of this company? I think this is a far cry from somone breaking his windshield then calling him that is insaine.. would have thought different if it was a human calling and not a machine... Larry diesbach FixMyWindshield.com

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