The statewide round-up, dubbed ''Operation Spring Cleaning,'' is targeting a variety of schemes, from staged auto accidents, the sale of bogus insurance, submittal of fake prescriptions and the filing of fraudulent hurricane claims.

''There's a large variety of ways that people try to rip off the system, and that costs us all,'' said Tom Gallagher, the state's chief financial officer, during a Wednesday press conference in Plantation.

Gallagher, a Republican candidate for governor, said state residents pay an average of $1,400 a year each in additional insurance costs because of fraud.

Among those arrested were two people charged with selling unlicensed discount medical plans. Doctors and hospitals listed as being on the plans were, in fact, not, according to Capt. John Dygon, a member of the Department of Financial Services' insurance fraud division in Broward.

Many of the arrests were on charges of auto-insurance fraud. Florida's no-fault insurance law requires drivers to buy at least $10,000 in personal injury protection protection, which guarantees medical, disability and death benefits.

Insurers claim the requirement breeds fraud, with clinics and healthcare providers taking advantage of the guaranteed minimum of $10,000 in medical care. The Legislature has been considering reforming no-fault insurance.

As of Wednesday afternoon, 47 people were arrested, including 18 from Miami. They included the ''hidden'' owner of a Miami medical clinic, accused of treating people with fake injuries from staged auto accidents.

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