The NICB analyzed more than one thousand questionable claims submitted by member companies and compared the details from the first quarter of 2009 to the first quarter of 2008. The Bureau says that the results show a definite increase in claims related to what is termed “opportunistic fraud.”

For example, the Bureau found a case where a hail storm caused limited damage to a section of shingles on a house, but the homeowner, seeing an opportunity to get an entirely new roof from his insurance company, deliberately caused more extensive damage.

Questionable claims related to hail losses increase 407 percent in 2009 compared to 2008. Claims related to suspicious vehicle fires or arsons were up 27 percent in 2009 compared to 2008 and owner give-ups increased 24 percent.

Slip-and-fall accidents are another example of opportunistic fraud and insurers submitted 60 percent more questionable claims related to slip-and-falls under casualty policies and 77 percent more under commercial policies.Suspected fraudulent claims related to workers’ compensation insurance were up 71 percent.

The NICB report covers only questionable claims submitted by member insurance companies. These claims have already been reviewed by the companies and classified as possibly fraudulent.