Sixteen schemers were busted Tuesday on charges of setting up fake auto accidents in Brooklyn, netting $400,000 in insurance payouts , authorities said.
http://liarcatchers.com/fraud_investigation.html
Several of the incidents involved U-Haul trucks rented by people with squeaky-clean licenses, said Detective Patrick Donohue of the NYPD’s Fraudulent Accident Investigation Squad.
The suspects — all from Brooklyn and ranging in age from 20 to 46 — were charged with insurance fraud, grand larceny, falsifying business records and misdemeanor conspiracy charges.
Crew leaders would shell out between $100 and $500 to those who would rent a vehicle for the day, Donohue said.
The “accidents” would range from hitting livery cabs to the fraudsters throwing themselves in front of cars and slapping the vehicle to make it sound like they’d been hit.
With New York State’s no-fault insurance law, claims can be filed for up to $50,000 to cover physical therapy, acupuncture and chiropractic sessions, Donohue explained, while separate lawsuits for bodily injury can be filed concurrently.
The year-long investigation was sparked by a referral from the Department of Financial Services, Donohue said, and was carried out by the NYPD and attorney general
