(a) Any natural person who knowingly or willfully:

(1) Makes or aids in the making of any false or fraudulent statement or representation of any material fact or thing:

(A) In any written statement or certificate;

(B) In the filing of a claim;

(C) In the making of an application for a policy of insurance;

(D) In the receiving of such an application for a policy of insurance; or

(E) In the receiving of money for such application for a policy of insurance

for the purpose of procuring or attempting to procure the payment of any false or fraudulent claim or other benefit by an insurer;

(2) Receives money for the purpose of purchasing insurance and converts such money to such person's own benefit;

(3) Issues fake or counterfeit insurance policies, certificates of insurance, insurance identification cards, or insurance binders; or

(4) Makes any false or fraudulent representation as to the death or disability of a policy or certificate holder in any written statement or certificate for the purpose of fraudulently obtaining money or benefit from an insurer

commits the crime of insurance fraud.

(b) In any prosecution under this Code section, the crime shall be considered as having been committed in the county of the purported loss, in the county in which the insurer or the insurer's agent received the fraudulent or false claim or application, in the county in which money was received for the fraudulent application, or in any county where any act in furtherance of the criminal scheme was committed.

(c) A person convicted of a violation of subsection (a) of this Code section shall be guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than two nor more than ten years, or by a fine of not more than $10,000.00, or both.