Automobile Insurance Fraud

The Auto Insurance Fraud Unit handles automobile insurance fraud and organized automobile fraud cases. This unit is dedicated to the investigation and prosecution of these types of fraud crimes, which is funded through grants from the State of California Department of Insurance (CDI)

The insurance industry estimates that auto fraud scams cost consumers anywhere from $15 billion to $20 billion annually. The Insurance Research Council estimates that, nationwide, one-third of all bodily injury claims for auto accidents contain some fraud. The majority of this figure stems from the padding or exaggeration of injuries, but the reality is that the opportunity to cheat the system is taken advantage of by not only the claimant, but by doctors and lawyers as well. Automobile insurance fraud takes many forms, such as:

• Fraud involving the issuance of insurance policies or processing of claims
• Staged or phantom accidents
• Organized auto theft rings
• Chop-shops
• Medical provider and/or auto body billing fraud

If you or someone you know suspects any of the fraudulent activities mentioned above, or if you are suspicious of certain activity and merely need to ask whether it is fraud, please contact us at:

Shasta County District Attorney’s Office
Auto Insurance Fraud Unit
1355 West Street
Redding, CA 96001
(530) 245-6300

The Auto Insurance Fraud Unit recommends the following agencies that may be of further assistance:

• California Department of Insurance Fraud Division
• National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB)