The latest statistics compiled by the National Insurance Crime Bureau in August 2010 point to a 14% increase in suspicious auto insurance claims for smashed windows during the first six months of the year.

Approximately 50 percent of the 7,993 potentially fraudulent insurance claims filed this year involved smashed car windows, making such cases the top fraud perpetrated by vehicle owners themselves.

The next most common occurrence, staged accidents, was followed by questionable claims for hail damaged roofs. All point to the same source, consumers strapped for cash in the recession seeking to capitalize on their insurance coverage.

Many consumers, resentful of paying insurance premiums over a long period of years with no perceived benefit, feel that such cases of fraud are actu...

Miami, Feb. 25, 2010 – Just a few weeks after Allstate began increasing the average rates for select insurance policies, State Farm has initiated the process of hiking insurance rates for Florida auto insurance. The insurer asked the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation for average statewide increases of 9% for State Farm Mutual automobile insurance as well as an 11.8% jump for State Farm Fire and Casualty. State Farm is one of the 4 largest automobile insurance providers in the US, along with Allstate, Geico and General. Coincidentally, Allstate jolted policyholders with a 16% average auto insurance premium increase that went into effect on January 11, 2010.

Amy Moore, Allstate spokesperson stated, "The Allstate increase will affect less than a fifth of the company's business, only policyholders with Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance....