A total of 14 charges have been laid against five individuals this year who allegedly committed separate frauds against Manitoba Public Insurance.
“Following extensive investigations, these files were forwarded to the provincial prosecution office for review,” said Curtis Wennberg, vice-president, Customer Service and COO, MPI. “These charges fall within either the Criminal Code, the MPIC Act or Highway Traffic Act. A conviction of any nature carriers a very serious consequence. A criminal record can affect travelling across the border, employment or business opportunities. Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime and this fraudulent activity affects honest Manitobans through their premiums.”
The 14 charges range from Making a False Statement, Fraud Over $5,000, and False or misleading Claim Information. The individuals, whose names are not being made public as they are presumed innocent until proven guilty in the courts, range in age from 30 to 55.
MPI remains committed to reducing auto insurance fraud. Education about auto insurance fraud is further heightened as March is Fraud Awareness Month in Canada.
Recently, MPI announced that auto insurance fraud costs every Manitoba Public Insurance ratepayer about $50 a year on their annual vehicle insurance bill and honest Manitobans are helping MPI more than ever. Last year MPI received a record-high 594 calls to the TIPS Line.
Anyone with information about auto insurance fraud is encouraged to call the Manitoba Public Insurance TIPS Line: 204-985-8477 or toll-free 1-877-985-8477. All calls are anonymous. Suspicious claims are handled by MPI’s Special Investigation Unit which continues to enhance its investigative methods, saving Manitobans nearly $12.8 million in fraudulent claims last year.
More information about insurance fraud
Fraud Prevention Month is an annual campaign held in March that aims to prevent Canadians from becoming victims of fraud. Insurance fraud – automobile, home or health care – costs Canadians more than $3 billion a year in premiums, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada.
A recent survey by financial comparison website Finder Canada found 43 per cent of those responding to a poll said they wished that they could upgrade some part of their lives through an insurance payout.
Some respondents admitted that they would be willing to stage an event or mislead their insurance company to obtain an insurance-paid upgrade, with 21 per cent saying they’d do so if they were sure they wouldn’t get caught.
The survey found that 12 per cent would crash their car or pretend it was stolen. Younger Canadians are also more likely than older residents to create a car catastrophe with 26 per cent of Gen Zs and 16 per cent of millennials saying they’d be willing to crash, damage or say their car was stolen.
