Less than a week after announcing five grand jury indictments as part of an ongoing automobile “give up” scheme to collect insurance premiums, New Jersey officials have announced sentences for three more people linked to the same fraud.

New Jersey officials have obtained five separate grand jury indictments, charging seven state residents with falsely reporting that their cars were stolen when they were part of a “give up” scheme to collect insurance premiums.

A Bainbridge, N.Y., man was found guilty of third-degree insurance fraud by a jury after arranging to have his vehicle burned to collect $3,800 from his insurer.

An Irvington, N.J., man who allegedly tried to get rid of his car recently got an indictment in return, accusing him of several crimes, including insurance fraud.

The current recession and the increased use of technology have resulted in the Maryland Insurance Administration receiving nearly double the referrals of fraudulent activity this year versus 2008.

Five New Jersey residents were indicted by separate grand juries for falsely reporting the theft of their cars, which had actually been instead sold to undercover police officers.