Australian firm selling bogus amusement ride, P/L products in Kentucky

An Australian company, Sinclair Insurance Co. Ltd. is selling bogus amusement ride and professional liability products in Kentucky without a certificate of authority from the state, according to the Kentucky Office of Insurance in Frankfort.

The practice was uncovered due to the recently initiated national “Stop.Call.Confirm.” campaign. Investigators received an alert from another state and checked out Sinclair’s activities.

Nebraska and Washington have filed cease-and-desist orders against Sinclair. Arkansas, Florida, Nevada and Wisconsin are investigating the company.

Insurance and Department of Agriculture inspectors, worked in conjunction to determine at least two Kentucky businesses have amusement ride/event liability insurance certificates issued by Sinclair.

Sinclair is associated with N.M. SIM Management Ltd., an Internet-based business. Its Web site offers professional liability coverage for architects, engineers, contractors, cosmeticians, hairdressers, dental assistants and hygienists, inspectors, medical technicians, nurses, personal trainers, teachers/educators and therapists.

In addition, Sinclair offers insurance for auto (Australia only), children’s health and life, expatriate health and travel.

“This is an example of why we are part of the national Stop. Call. Confirm. campaign,” Glenn Jennings, KOI executive director said. “Consumers should contact us to verify the legitimacy of any company before purchasing an insurance product. Our efforts to protect Kentuckians become much more difficult when dealing with one of these unauthorized entities.”

Wilbur Frye, executive director of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Office of Consumer and Environmental Protection, said, “It is the responsibility of amusement ride operators to make sure companies from which they buy insurance are authorized to do business in Kentucky.”