DENVER -- As things get tight at home, one industry fears some people may be trying to wring every last dime from their last resort against unexpected loss: the insurance company.

Insurance hail claims saw the biggest spike, jumping an incredible 407 percent in the first quarter of 2009 versus 2008.

According to the report by the National Insurance Crime Bureau released Tuesday, the number of questionable claims that could indicate insurance fraud skyrocketed across the United States as the economy tanked.

The broader category of catastrophe -- including tornado, hail, wind and fire -- saw a 463 percent spike.

A homeowner with relatively minor hail damage may now be trying to stick the insurance company for an entirely new roof, for example.

Suspicious disappearance or loss of jewelry was up 39 percent. Slip and fall claims were up 60 percent. Suspicious vehicle fires jumped 27 percent.

Material misrepresentations in depositions or recorded interviews was up 55 percent.

“Desperate times sometimes cause people to take desperate measures,” said Joe Wehrle, NICB’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Unfortunately, committing insurance fraud is not the solution to anyone’s problems, it only leads to more problems if you’re caught."

“Some people think it is ok to cheat an insurance company, but the fact is, they are breaking the law, risking jail time, and causing everyone else to pay more for their insurance coverage,” he said.

The NICB, based in Des Plaines, Ill, said the numbers back up what insurance agents have been saying for months: that the recession has turned typical claims into larger ones or even caused some to try and cash out of a high car payment.

The report covers claims that were previously reviewed by the more than 1,000 individual insurance companies and self-insured groups and classified as possibly fraudulent.

According to the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association, Colorado is one of only four states where fraud is not a specific crime.

"So we don't have conviction stats specific to fraud in Colorado. Fraud is often considered a victimless crime but we all pay for it through higher insurance rates," said Carole Walker, Executive Director of the RMIIA. "People should also be aware that companies have special investigators dedicated to fraud and they work in cooperation with law enforcement."