Top 5 insurance scams in Manitoba

Manitoba motorists saved nearly $40 million over the last three years, thanks to the work of an anti-fraud special investigation unit, Manitoba Public Insurance [MPI] recently announced. The $40-million figure is based on an estimate of money recovered and fraudulent claims denied, MPI said in a recent public release.The figure was included in an MPI release announcing the “Top Five Frauds” that passed through Manitoba’s courts last year. The frauds include the following scenarios (names were not included in the release):(1)A man claimed his vehicle had been stolen from his Winnipeg residence when he left the vehicle running outside. After 30 days, the vehicle had not been recovered, and the owner received a settlement. Shortly afterward, Dr. Hook Towing notified an MPI adjuster that they were in possession of the vehicle. The adjuster noted it had been “recovered” by the towing company almost a full day before the alleged theft.(2) An insured claimed to have suffered soft-tissue injuries in a two-vehicle accident that allegedly prevented him from working as a handyman. In order to qualify for income replacement, the injured man provided his MPI case manager with copies of his income tax returns and receipts for work done. As it turned out, the tax return was altered and receipts for work done were forged.(3)An insured reported she was backing her brother-in-law’s vehicle out of his garage when her foot slipped from the brake to the accelerator, causing her to collide with a pole. When she made a claim, the extensive damage aroused suspicion. An investigation revealed the damage was caused intentionally in a staged accident. It was also established that the insured’s brother-in-law had written off three other vehicles in a similar manner.(4)A Steinbach woman filed a theft claim for a 2003 Honda ATV, which she claimed had been stolen from her residence. When the vehicle could not be located, the claim was settled. At the time, the MPI adjuster was advised that the woman had not rented a substitute ATV. However, two days later, the adjuster received an ATV rental invoice from a local dealership in the amount of $986. When the woman again confirmed that no rental had been taken, the adjuster contacted MPI. Subsequent investigation revealed that although the theft victim had asked the dealer about a rental unit, she was told the dealer had none but would bill MPI for the non-existent rental and credit her next purchase accordingly. (5) An insured reported that he had been involved in an accident at about 2:30 p.m. seven minutes after renewing his driver’s licence at a location several miles from the scene of the accident. Unfortunately for the insured, the other vehicle involved in the accident was a City of Winnipeg garbage truck, whose operator reported that the accident happened at 1:15 p.m. when the truck was regularly scheduled to make a pick-up, and before the insured’s licence had been renewed.