Salem – As rain and snow begin to fall more, now is a good time to talk to your insurance company or agent about flood insurance and landslide coverage, which are also called difference-in-conditions policies. Parts of Oregon are flood prone, and we have already seen landslides on the Oregon Coast in December, which destroyed three homes and damaged two others. The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) urges homeowners, businesses, and tenants to consider protecting their property and contents with comprehensive flood and landslide insurance. Most homeowners, renters, manufactured home, condominium, and business policies do not cover these perils.

Flood and landslide insurance provides peace of mind to property owners and renters, and protects them from the financial devastation that often accompanies natural disasters. Floods and landslides can cause extensive damage to homes and businesses, including structural damage and loss of personal property. With this additional coverage, property owners and tenants can focus on recovering and rebuilding, reducing their financial burden.

You can buy flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). There are also some private insurers that offer it as well. Flood insurance policies can be tailored to meet the specific needs of each customer, providing options for building coverage, contents coverage, and replacement cost coverage. When purchased, a typical flood insurance policy has a 30-day waiting period, so it should be purchased before flooding concerns.

“Typical homeowners insurance doesn’t cover damages from floods or landslides, and many people may not know that their home is not covered for these types of perils,” said TK Keen, Oregon’s insurance commissioner. “In Oregon, flood insurance is a separate policy that provides coverage for damages caused by flooding, and it is important for homeowners, businesses, and renters to evaluate whether to have this coverage to protect their property. Landslide insurance is a different policy that homeowners, businesses, and renters may also need to seek based upon the specific location of the property.”

DFR encourages property owners and renters to consider flood and landslide insurance as a crucial part of their disaster preparedness plan and to talk to their insurance company or agent.

“Don’t wait until it’s too late to protect your property from flooding or any kind of disaster,” Keen said. “With the right policy and coverage, you can have peace of mind knowing you are prepared.”

Depending on where you live, your mortgage company may or may not require flood insurance. If they don’t require it, you can still apply for coverage. Not all insurance companies offer difference-in-conditions policies. If your current insurance company or agent does not write this coverage, ask an agent for recommendations. Always make sure you are working with a licensed insurance agent, which can be confirmed by searching here.

For more information on flood insurance and other natural disaster preparedness, check out DFR’s website.

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About Oregon DFR: The Division of Financial Regulation protects consumers and regulates insurance, depository institutions, trust companies, securities, and consumer financial products and services. The division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency. Visit dfr.oregon.gov and dcbs.oregon.gov.

Salem – In the fourth quarter of 2025, Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) consumer advocates helped recover more than $1 million for Oregon consumers. The fourth quarter consists of the last three months of the year. The $1,118,375 recovered brings the 2025 total to $7,039,774 – money that goes directly back to Oregonians.

Consumer advocates have extensive knowledge across many areas of regulation, including helping those experiencing difficulties with insurance, mortgages, banking products, securities, student loans, and a variety of other financial services regulated by DFR.

“The agency’s work to protect consumers by holding companies accountable to their customers helps to make Oregon more affordable for all of us,” Gov. Tina Kotek said.

The final quarter of last year saw 1,454 complaints come through DFR’s consumer advocates for a total of 5,663 complaints in 2025. Insurance complaints led the way in each quarter, with 935 in the last three months of 2025, while more than 3,700 insurance complaints came in throughout the year. Credit union complaints were the next highest of areas DFR regulated with 59 complaints for the quarter and 212 for the entire year. Advocates also received 254 insurance complaints that were not regulated by DFR.

Examples of consumer complaints successfully resolved by DFR advocates in the last three months of 2025 include:

• Following a dental trauma, a consumer was seen at an in-network emergency room and referred to an out-of-network specialist for follow-up care. The in-network doctor submitted a prior authorization for the specialist’s services, but the consumer did not understand that since the specialist was out-of-network, they would be responsible for the full bill, which totaled $12,000. The insurer denied the consumer’s appeal to pay the claim and waive the charges, so the consumer filed a complaint with DFR. During the insurer’s review, because the in-network emergency room provider requested prior authorization from an out-of-network provider instead of an in-network provider, the insurance company agreed to negotiate a single case agreement, which means the consumer will be responsible only for their in-network cost share.

• A consumer filed a complaint indicating a debt management service provider charged for services while he resided in Oregon when the provider was not licensed in the state. The service provider credited the consumer $3,176.48 for fees earned while he lived in Oregon.

• A consumer reported a hail loss in July 2025. The company’s estimate and the contractor’s estimate were significantly different. The two areas of concern were skylights and roofing materials. The consumer lived in a homeowner association that set requirements for the quality of materials used for building or repairs. Some differences appeared associated with those requirements and, based on the insurance contract, were not owed by the insurer. However, through the complaint process, the company reassessed these two areas of the repair estimate and made adjustments to properly reflect like kind and quality of the repair materials. Additional payments totaling $4,389.17 were issued.

• A consumer traveled to Cleveland, Ohio, to see a specialist for a rare type of cancer and ongoing treatment. During travel, an emergency occurred requiring the consumer to be hospitalized for a full month and to undergo multiple procedures. The provider had previously been in-network. However, the consumer’s employer recently changed insurers, and the provider was now out-of-network. The consumer was not aware there would be such a drastic difference in benefits. The consumer returned to Oregon as soon as they were able, but now had significant bills due of about $40,000. After corresponding with the insurer, the insurer agreed to retroactively approve continuity of care for the consumer, which allowed several large claims to be reprocessed as in-network. Partnering with the consumer and the insurer to verify outstanding balances and claim statuses, four separate previously out-of-network claims were able to be reprocessed, saving the consumer $38,800.75.

“Last year saw over 5,000 complaints come in to our consumer advocates, and they handled them professionally,” said Sean O’Day, director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services. “We have a dedicated group of employees who have a common goal of helping Oregonians navigate the often complicated world of insurance and financial services.”

Oregon Insurance Commissioner TK Keen said consumer advocates have a tough job and handle it professionally.

“I am very proud of our team of industry experts, who continue to put their knowledge to work for the benefit of Oregonians,” said Keen, who is also the DFR administrator. “Many of the cases they deal with are highly complex and take a lot of time to navigate. I am happy to see their hard work benefitting so many people in our state.”

Anyone who may need a consumer advocate can call 888-877-4894 (toll-free) or email dfr.insurancehelp@dcbs.oregon.gov for insurance-related issues and dfr.finanicialserviceshelp@dcbs.oregon.gov for financial-related issues.

Here is the list of complaints through 2025:

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About Oregon DFR: The Division of Financial Regulation protects consumers and regulates insurance, depository institutions, trust companies, securities, and consumer financial products and services. The division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency. Visit dfr.oregon.gov and dcbs.oregon.gov.

Salem – As people celebrate Valentine’s Day and look for love online, the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) is warning consumers to be on guard against romance scams and so-called “relationship investment scams,” a fast-growing form of fraud that blends emotional manipulation with fake investment opportunities.

Relationship investment scams are a recent and particularly damaging type of romance fraud, causing reported losses in the billions. According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers reported $12.5 billion in investment-related scam losses in 2024, a figure that has tripled in just three years. In the North American Securities Administrators Association’s (NASAA) annual survey of top investor threats, romance and affinity scams consistently rank among the most serious risks facing communities nationwide. The good news is awareness works, and sharing information can help protect the people you care about most.

“This Valentine’s Day, make sure Cupid is aiming for your heart and not your wallet,” said TK Keen, administrator of DFR, a division of the Department of Consumer and Business Services. “Romance and relationship investment scams prey on trust and emotion, often leaving victims with devastating financial losses. If someone you meet online starts talking about investments, promises easy money, or pressures you to act quickly, that’s a clear warning sign. Love should never come with a request for money, and checking DFR’s website before investing can help stop a scam before it breaks both your heart and your bank account.”

Relationship scams often begin on dating apps, social media platforms, messaging apps, or through unexpected “wrong number” text messages. Criminals use fake profiles, photos, videos, and even artificial intelligence-generated voices to appear attractive, credible, and successful.

Once contact is made, scammers send frequent messages to build trust and emotional attachment before asking for money. What often starts as a small request can quickly escalate into devastating financial losses. In other cases, they often claim to have made significant profits trading cryptocurrency, precious metals, or foreign currency thanks to special knowledge or insider help. Victims are told investing is easy and are encouraged to participate, only to be directed to fraudulent trading platforms secretly operated by organized criminal groups.

These scams do not discriminate. People of all ages and backgrounds have been victimized, though people who live alone or spend significant time on social media or online discussion groups may be more vulnerable. Scams succeed because they exploit powerful emotions such as financial stress, loneliness, excitement, or fear. While these scams have existed for years, they evolve with the headlines and technology. State regulators are increasingly seeing complaints involving digital assets and artificial intelligence. If you believe that you have been a victim, or have any questions, call DFR at 1-888-877-4894 (toll-free) or email dfr.financialserviceshelp@dcbs.oregon.gov.

You can find more information on fraud awareness and how to avoid scams on DFR’s website.

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About Oregon DFR: The Division of Financial Regulation protects consumers and regulates insurance, depository institutions, trust companies, securities, and consumer financial products and services. The division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency. Visit dfr.oregon.gov and dcbs.oregon.gov.