A South Carolina woman is facing legal trouble after authorities say she staged an insurance claim, falsely alleging that her vehicle was damaged in a collision with a deer. The alleged fraud was uncovered when metadata from submitted photographs revealed they were taken before the supposed accident -- and before her insurance policy even took effect.
Queen Viola Arthur, 33, of Hartsville, SC, was charged with filing a false auto insurance claim, according to an arrest warrant from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
Authorities said Arthur submitted a claim to Progressive Insurance in October 2023, stating her vehicle had been damaged in a collision with a deer. However, investigators determined the photos she provided had been taken before the alleged incident, leading Progressive to deny the claim.
"Arthur told Progressive that her vehicle had no prior unrepaired damage," the warrant said. "Arthur attempted to gain an undeserved economic advantage by presenting a false claim totaling $2,014."
The case is part of a broader crackdown on fraudulent insurance claims. Just two months prior, four Los Angeles residents were charged with a similar scheme involving a fabricated bear attack. In that case, claimants alleged a bear caused over $141,000 in vehicle damages, but insurance investigators uncovered video evidence proving the "bear" was actually a person in a costume.
Arthur was arrested earlier in January and later released on bond.
