insurance fraud

So apparently a friend of one of my co-worker's has had some economic problems in the past. No big deal, happens to a lot of people. Of course, not everyone comes up with the brilliant solution that this man did to get out of those economic problems. This man was in debt and needed some cash...fast. Of course, the most logical thing to do when you need cash is to set something on fire. That is exactly what this man did...to his car. He drove it to a dirt road, poured some gasoline in it, threw in a match and watched it burn. The crazy thing is, he got away with it. How in the world the insurance company did not suspect foul play when a car mysteriously burns up on a remote dirt road is beyond me. Especially when it should have been very easy to find out that gasoline was poured on it. I thought firefighters and investigators were very good at these things...I watch CSI. Ok, I don't watch CSI, but I see the commercials and promos and it seems that if they can solve a murder with nothing more than a piece of dirt, they certainly should be able to figure this one out. Nonetheless, he got away with it.

So the logical conclusion one draws after getting away with insurance fraud it to try one's luck again. And that is exactly what this gentleman did years later when he once again ran into money problems. Same scenario, different day. He drives to some remote location and proceeds to apply gasoline and ignite. Shortly after doing so it just so happens that a perfect stranger had decided to take a drive on that countryside carrying a fire extinguisher. Upon coming around the turn he saw the burning car, skidded to a stop and put the fire out. Now the man was the proud owner of a slightly used car with a few burns. Nice.