"While many people have legitimate accidents in stores and businesses across the country, we've seen a growing number of cases that have some indication of potential fraud," said Joe Wehrle, NICB president and chief executive officer.

So what do these cases of slip-and-fall fraud entail? Wehrle explains that, "A typical slip-and-fall case may involve two people going into a big box store or retailer, and splitting up. The first person goes down an aisle while the other keeps a lookout. When the coast is clear, he or she pulls out a small bottle of liquid, pours it on the floor, and then pretends to fall on the floor. The partner runs to assist and tells everyone that he witnessed the fall.

"They come into an area and hit several retailers, grocers, or other businesses with sophisticated schemes and professional execution. They hope to collect a quick payout and move on before anyone realizes what's going on." New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Las Vegas and Chicago were the five cities with the most questionable claims for slip-and-falls, and California, Florida, New York, Illinois and Texas were the top five states.

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