Winnipeg, Manitoba -- Manitoba Public Insurance has released its annual list of the Top Five attempted auto insurance frauds of 2025, detailing several high-value and unusual claims investigated by the Crown corporation’s Special Investigations Unit.
MPI officials said investigators reviewed more than 2,600 suspected fraudulent physical damage and bodily injury claims over the year. The work of the SIU helped prevent or recover nearly $17 million in improper payouts, savings that ultimately benefit Manitoba ratepayers.
“While some of the cases highlighted may appear extreme, insurance fraud carries a real cost that is shared by all Manitobans,” said John Bowering, vice-president and chief claims officer at MPI, in a statement accompanying the release. He added that the SIU’s work helps protect the integrity of Manitoba’s public insurance system.
The annual list includes five cases selected for their scale, complexity or level of deception.
In one case, a claimant alleged serious injuries from a minor collision and said they were unable to perform basic daily activities. Surveillance later showed the individual engaging in strenuous gym workouts. MPI terminated benefits and denied the claim, preventing more than $300,000 in additional payments.
Another case involved a vehicle fire in which the claimant reported sustaining burn injuries while attempting to extinguish the blaze. Investigators later determined the fire had been intentionally set. MPI denied the claim, avoiding approximately $1 million in combined vehicle and injury costs.
In a third case, a vehicle reported stolen was later discovered en route for overseas export. MPI said evidence showed the theft claim was fraudulent, and efforts are ongoing to recover roughly $51,700 already paid.
The list also includes a fabricated collision involving a Porsche that investigators determined did not occur as reported, resulting in a denied claim worth about $154,000, as well as a bodily injury claim in which surveillance contradicted reported physical limitations, saving more than $480,000.
MPI encourages the public to report suspected insurance fraud through its confidential TIPS Line or Crime Stoppers. All information is handled anonymously.
The insurer said its annual fraud report is intended to raise awareness about the prevalence and impact of insurance fraud, which can contribute to higher costs across the system if left unchecked.
