Auto Insurance Fraud on the Rise in US: Staged Accidents ‘More Brazen’ than Before

www.Foxbusiness.com, Daniella Genovese, October 28, 2024

Staged car accidents – fraudulent schemes designed to exploit insurance systems – are becoming more frequent on roadways across the U.S.

The rise in these events is becoming a significant concern in California, New York and Florida, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

Mark Friedlander, institute spokesperson, told FOX Business that "unscrupulous actors" are increasingly capitalizing on busy roadways to stage collisions and cash in on insurance payouts, particularly in high-traffic states.

"We've seen these types of auto fraud scams for many years. This is nothing new. But we're seeing an uptick in many areas," Friedlander said.

"You typically see them on interstates in highly populated, highly congested areas of the country," he added.  

The institute's analysis of industry data from 2022 and 2023 shows a 14% increase in staged accidents on an annual basis in New York and a 58% spike in New Jersey, among the highest in the U.S. 

California recorded the highest volume of staged accidents in 2023 with 5,366 cases. New York ranked second with 1,729, followed by Florida with 1,110.

Friedlander said the trend is also being exacerbated by the perpetrators' ability to evade prosecution. 

"While states are trying to crack down on these schemes, many of the fraudsters that operate in these states are not being caught," he said. As they "continue to be more brazen, more bold in causing stage accidents, it multiplies," he added. Continue Reading