PITTSBURGH -- Police are concerned about a growing number of insurance fraud cases locally -- in particular, car insurance fraud.

Target 11's Karen Welles shows us the problem and what's being done about it.

Is it need or greed that's driving local people to try to rip off car insurance companies?

Target 11 took a look at some recent cases and put the question to the experts.

Take a look at a scrap yard and experts can tell you which banged up or burned-out vehicles are more likely to have been involved in car insurance fraud.

Jodi Insana is a senior special agent with the National Insurance Crime Bureau -- which investigates insurance fraud.

"The ones that you see that are burned to a crisp, chances are that they're being looked at a little bit more carefully by the insurance company," Insana said.

Forensic specialists know what to look for in a suspicious claim. Insurance companies also have their own special investigation units as well and they work with police -- like the Allegheny County Police Insurance Fraud Unit.

"We'll have the cars examined. Sometimes they may not report the accident for several days and then rust develops -- and that's not an indication of a fresh accident," Lt. Bob Downey, of Allegheny County Police Insurance Fraud Unit, said.

Downey says they're seeing a growing trend of uninsured drivers involved in accidents applying for car insurance and then turning in claims saying the accident happened after they got insurance.

"The one guy that did the hitting he didn't have insurance and he tried to make a deal with the other party. (He says) 'Hey, ya know, I'm gonna call up and get insurance' and then his complaint was the people he hit got greedy -- that's why he got caught," Downey said.

Police say some who get caught are part of organized crime greedy to make a buck.

But locally, the fraud is more out of need.

"Is it more, ya know, I can't afford the car. Or is it I wanna make money?" Welles asked.

"I would say in Pa. it's more you can't afford the car. With the economy the way it is, many people can't afford their vehicles any longer. So instead of just turning it back in, they report it stolen and that way they get out from under their payments," Insana said.

Experts say many people who commit insurance fraud think it's a victimless crime, but it's not.

Statistics show the rest of us pay between $200 and $300 more a year in car insurance rates just to cover the cost of fraud.

To report insurance fraud, call 1-800-TEL-NICB or 1-800-835-6422.