Sharp increase in insurance fraud in Florida

Florida's insurance fraud committee has reported a high increase in fraud following the 2004 cyclonic season. The main fraudulent practices ranged from systematic loss over assessment, deliberate damages to false statements by the insured as well as insurance agents. The Committee's penalty scale makes provisions for fines ranging between 20 000 and 100 000 USD and prison sentences from 5 to 30 years according to the gravity of the offence.