Part 4: NICB and Hurricane Katrina: A 10-Year Retrospective

Over 300,000 Vehicles Damaged, Where are They Now?

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Aug 27, 2015, 06:00 ET

DES PLAINES, Ill., Aug. 27, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Each day this week the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) is releasing segments of a five-part documentary video that provides first-hand recollections of NICB employees and law enforcement personnel as they reflect on their roles in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

In terms of property damage, Hurricane Katrina was the most costly on record with insured losses estimated at over $41 billion. Part of that figure came from insurance claims on more than 300,000 vehicles damaged or destroyed by Katrina—vehicles that presented an attractive opportunity for fraud.

Video release schedule:
Monday, Part 1: Multistate Devastation
Tuesday, Part 2: NICB's Initial Response
Wednesday, Part 3: Vehicle Identification
Thursday, Part 4: Coast to Coast Impact
Friday, Part 5: Birth of VINCheck^SM

Today's video segment shows how in the weeks and months after Katrina, NICB agents were finding vehicles damaged by floodwaters for sale from New York to California. These potential coffins on wheels were just waiting to be purchased by unsuspecting consumers.

Anyone with information concerning insurance fraud or vehicle theft can report it anonymously by calling toll-free 800-TEL-NICB (800-835-6422), texting keyword "fraud" to TIP411 (847411) or submitting a form on our website. Or, download the NICB Fraud Tips app on your iPhone or Android device.

About the National Insurance Crime Bureau: Headquartered in Des Plaines, Ill., the NICB is the nation's leading not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to preventing, detecting and defeating insurance fraud and vehicle theft through data analytics, investigations, training, legislative advocacy and public awareness. The NICB is supported by more than 1,100 property and casualty insurance companies and self-insured organizations. NICB member companies wrote over $395 billion in insurance premiums in 2014, or more than 78 percent of the nation's property/casualty insurance. That includes more than 93 percent ($176 billion) of the nation's personal auto insurance. To learn more visit www.nicb.org.

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SOURCE National Insurance Crime Bureau