Fraudulent wrecks on rise in area

His friend asked him whether he wanted to make some quick money. All he would have to do was be a car crash victim and get medical treatment at a specific clinic.

He accepted.

Josue Baez, 23, of Tampa later told investigators he received $500 for playing the role of a crash victim, with the promise of $10,000 more after going through with a lawsuit.

Baez was one of the hundreds of people arrested statewide last year in staged crashes. Most of the incidents were in South Florida, but police say staged crashes are increasing in Tampa.

The wrecks are designed to bilk insurance companies, said Alex Sink, the state's chief financial officer.

"It causes all of our insurance rates to skyrocket," said Sink, who attended a Tampa police demonstration of a staged crash late last week.

She said 30 percent of the roughly 12,000 referrals to the state's insurance fraud division last year were for personal injury protection fraud.

Fraudulent claims account for $200 to $300 in insurance premiums each year per insured driver, Allstate spokeswoman Amy Moore said.

"You and I are paying for it," Moore said.

The so-called victims typically become patients at health clinics that also are conspiring in the scheme, said Cpt. Steven Smith of the state Division of Insurance Fraud. Those clinics could make millions billing for patients who often aren't injured.

Insurance companies reported more questionable claims in Florida last year than any other state, according to statistics compiled by the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Tampa had the second-most such claims reported of any city nationwide.

In one Tampa case, authorities say, Aguedo Diaz, 45, paid people to get in crashes and referred them to specific health care clinics.

Several insurance companies paid a combined $165,415 on claims associated with Diaz's crashes between October 2005 and June 2007.

Diaz was arrested May 31 at Cypress Street and Habana Avenue, 45 minutes after he staged a crash at that intersection, an arrest report states.

He has pleaded not guilty to charges including participation in a staged motor vehicle crash, patient brokering and filing a fraudulent insurance claim.

In Baez's case, the staged crash was supposed to occur March 30 at a red light, but he and his accomplices couldn't find one. Instead, the rear-end crash happened as Baez slowed to turn into a gas station on Himes Avenue.

There was little damage, but they reported the crash.

Investigators say Baez got his $500 and went to a Tampa clinic for acupuncture, massage and heat pack treatments.

Baez was arrested Nov. 18, accused of participating in a staged vehicle crash. He pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of conspiring to participate in a staged vehicle crash and was sentenced to three years of probation. Adjudication was withheld.

STAGED CRASHES

In most staged crashes, authorities say, all of the participants know each other and any injuries are faked. But sometimes there are actual victims. Police say motorists can protect themselves by keeping a good distance from the car in front, and by monitoring their surroundings and traffic conditions. When a crash occurs, drivers should:

•Call police and file a report.

•Exchange information with others involved and write down license numbers.

•Get contact information from potential witnesses.

•Record information about the crash as soon as possible.

•Take pictures at the scene.

•Watch for unsolicited tow truck operators.

For information about staged crashes, go to www.allstate.com/about/fraud.aspx.