DES PLAINES, Ill., Dec. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) today released its 2009-2011 Massachusetts questionable claims referral reason analysis. Questionable claims (QC) are those claims that NICB member insurance companies refer to NICB for closer review and investigation based on one or more indicators of possible fraud. A single claim may contain up to seven referral reasons. This report analyzes MA QCs by loss city, core-based statistical area (CBSA), policy type, loss type, policy and loss type combined and referral reasons.

In 2009, there were 1,629 MA QCs referred to NICB from its member insurance companies. In 2010, the number decreased to 1,492 and in 2011, it rose to 1,768—an eight percent increase over 2009's figure.

The top five cities in Massachusetts generating the most QCs last year were Boston (468), Springfield (80), Worcester (57), Brockton (52), and Lynn (44). The top five CBSAs reporting QCs were Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, Springfield, Providence-New Bedford-Fall River, Barnstable Town, and Pittsfield. The top five loss types were: collision, bodily injury, personal injury protection, property damage and theft.

The full report is available here.

Anyone with information concerning vehicle theft and insurance fraud can report it anonymously by calling toll-free 1-800-TEL-NICB (1-800-835-6422), texting keyword "fraud" to TIP411 (847411) or by visiting our Web site at www.nicb.org. Or, iPhone or iPad users can download the NICB Fraud Tips app to make it easy to quickly send a tip and get a response.

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 $319 billion in insurance premiums in 2010, or approximately 80 percent of the nation's property/casualty insurance. That includes more than 94 percent ($152 billion) of the nation's personal auto insurance. To learn more visit www.nicb.org.

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SOURCE National Insurance Crime Bureau