Really Stupid Fraud Violators

Let's face it, anyone who purposely commits insurance fraud is probably not very bright. Insurance fraud -- whether it is a consumer attempting to defraud an insurer; or an insurance representative trying to rip off consumers -- is illegal and will likely land the violators in jail. The high cost of insurance fraud is a major factor that leads to higher insurance rates.

We've uncovered some incredible examples of fraud scams. Check out these ridiculous stories:

* "You're Fired!"
A Connecticut man torched his home so he could collect $250,000 in insurance money and pay off his out-of-control debt. Problem was, the man couldn't keep quiet. He blabbed about his caper all over town. Even his children spread the word to their school buddies. School officials got wind of the arson case and ratted out the man, who spent seven years in prison for arson and insurance fraud.

* "What a Drag!"
Another Connecticut man collected $5,000 in phoney workers' compensation claims.  And then he appeared on a TV program, dressed in drag, running in a 40-yard dash in an attempt to win Hannah Montana concert tickets. It was a real drag for the man when he was spotted and arrested for workers' comp fraud.

* "Pain in the Glass"
A New England couple bilked almost $200,000 out of various restaurants, taverns and other merchants by chewing glass and claiming the glass was in the establishments' products. All the businesses paid off the couple to avoid a lawsuit. The couple was finaly nabbed and each one is doing prison time.

* "Ratatouille Soup"
Legend has it that a Virginia woman claimed there was a mouse in her soup while dining at a local restaurant. She asked for $500,000 for her emotional distress. But investigators sliced open the mouse and found no soup contents. The woman spent a year in jail for insurance fraud.

If you get wind of an insurance fraud scam, contact your insurance company or the National Insurance Crime Bureau at 1-800-TEL-NICB (835-6422).