CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. – A Clayton County woman claimed her insurance agent withheld money that was supposed to go towards her home insurance policy and excluded her from coverage.

Now Clayton County police are investigating the incident.

“I felt like I was going to lose my home because I didn’t have homeowners insurance,” Mary Morton told FOX 5.

For Morton, buying a new home in a new city felt like the start of an exciting new chapter. That excitement was quickly eclipsed after we moved in earlier this year.

“I lived in Charlotte, North Carolina, and we moved here because I wanted an opportunity for my job,” he recalled. “It was a great experience from April to July, until I had to make a claim.”

The claim, filed for a water leak that contractors found in his home, led him to discover that he was uninsured.

Morton said the $1,400 check payable to the insurance company never arrived in their account.

“When I tried to file a claim, they couldn’t find my name in the system,” he said.

He told FOX 5 that’s because the insurance agent recommended by the mortgage company never sent the check. When contacted about this, the representative told her it was a “mistake.”

“He said he had forgotten and that he would hurry up and implement a policy for me,” Morton said.

He says after weeks of reaching out for updates, he stopped receiving responses. The water leak eventually led to mold growth, and he said he had to pay out of pocket to have it removed.

“I have a child with breathing problems,” he said. “This caused a lot of anxiety for me.”

In August, he filed a report with Clayton County police accusing the agent of theft by deception and identity fraud.

When she posted about it on Nextdoor, she learned she wasn’t the only homeowner in this situation.

“I filed a complaint with the insurance board for my insurance license,” he said. “There are a total of five victims who contacted me. Everyone disappeared without insurance.”

Morton says he eventually got his money back after going to the police, but after getting a new policy the total annual cost of his insurance tripled.

He is urging others looking to buy now to keep a closer eye on who is using their money and deal directly with insurance companies if possible.

In response to a request for comment, the representative told FOX 5 that Morton’s claim was investigated by the Professional Liability Insurance Company and they also filed a lawsuit against Morton.

Part of the agency’s statement reads: “…other alleged victims were receiving refunds from their insurance companies about a year and a half ago.” “We are making every effort to ensure that such situations do not occur again.”