A Rockingham woman has been arrested by state authorities for embezzlement involving insurance policies, said Wayne Goodwin, N.C. Commissioner of Insurance.

Jennifer Hughes Puckett, 30, Woodside Drive, Rockingham, was owner of Abbott Insurance Group in West End. The group closed in February.

Puckett was arrested on 10 charges of embezzlement. Her bond was set at $10,000.

A licensed insurance agent, Puckett is charged with allegedly taking $9,000 in premiums for fradulent insurance policies between Oct. 1, 2007, and Feb. 1.

So far, Goodwin said investigators have identified 14 victims of the scam.

He said they are clients who were issued fraudulent certificates of insurance and believed they were covered by various auto, homeowner, rental and other insurance policies.

A complaint from a consumer who discovered a policy was fake led to the investigation, Goodwin said.

The N.C. Department of Insurance employs 20 sworn law enforcement officers dedicated to investigating claims of insurance fraud.

In 2008, these investigators saw more than 453 cases successfully closed with more than $5.8 million in restitution, 130 arrests and 60 criminal convictions.

Goodwin said an estimated 10 cents of every dollar paid in premiums goes toward the payment of fraudulent claims.

To report a suspected fraud, contact the Department of Insurance Investigations Division at (919) 807-6840. Callers may remain anonymous.

Information is also available at www.ncdoi.com.