Hundreds Arrested in Auto Insurance Scam
At least 19 insurance companies were defrauded
AP
Hundreds of people were arrested Thursday in a massive sting operation against an auto insurance fraud ring, according to the Daily News.
An attorney, legal aids, and three chiropractors were among those arrested in "Operation Big Fish," one of the largest in a string of auto insurance fraud rings the District Attorney's Office has broken up in recent years.
The suspects are accused of staging fake "paper" accidents to collect money from insurance companies. They allegedly approached vehicle owners and offered to pay as much as $2500 if they would participate.
"They won't even have a legitimate accident. They have somebody who goes and damages the vehicles to look like they were in an accident and they call the insurance company," Auto Insurance Fraud Division Deputy District Attorney Gregory Alker told the Daily News.
Suspects often never paid the vehicle owners after the scam.
At least 19 insurance companies were defrauded and sustained losses of nearly $549,000, the Daily News reported.
