Claims News Service, Mar. 21, 12:57 p.m.- Insurance fraudconvictions and related crimes are increasing in Virginia,according to the 2006 annual report issued by the Insurance FraudProgram, a division of the Virginia State Police.

The report said that personal injury and casualty cases were upby more than 18 percent last year. Workers' compensation cases,meanwhile, increased 36 percent, and property and auto fraud casesrose 72 percent.

The Virginia State Police (VSP) investigates fraud connectedwith property, casualty, and workers' compensation. In 2006, therewere 151 convictions in the state, which is a 74 percent increasefrom 2005. According to the VSP, statistics from the program showthat the number of notifications received for cases with suspectedfraud reached 1,895, an increase of more than 15 percent from2005.

Last year the VSP conducted 368 investigations and have receivedmore than 9,000 notifications of suspected fraud from Virginiacitizens, insurance industry professionals, and law enforcementofficials since the start of the Insurance Fraud Program in1999.

More information can be found at www.stampoutfraud.com

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