Fraud Frenzy: Canadian auto fraud up 54 percent thanks to ID theft, fake credit applications, says Equifax Canada
Ottawa, Ontario — Identity theft and fake credit applications have caused Canadian auto fraud to surge 54 percent compared to a year ago, according to a recent report from Equifax Canada. Ontario is the province that has experienced the most significant increase in auto fraud, with rates doubling since Q2 2023, said Equifax. First-party fraud, […]
VIN Villainy: Calgary driver seeks to clear CARFAX report after alleged VIN cloning incident
Calgary, Alberta — If today’s drivers didn’t have enough theft-related concerns to power their paranoia, a Calgary resident has come forward to alert the public that cars can be stolen on paper too—that’s right, someone stole his VIN! At least that is what Rick Barvir suspects, as he recently recounted his ongoing struggles to sell […]
Rust Reparations: Class action suit against Mercedes alleges vehicle subframes prone to rust, corrosion
Atlanta, Georgia — Luxury automaker Mercedes-Benz appears to have run afoul of some customers who allege the automaker broke consumer fraud laws by failing to address rust and corrosion of the subframe on a number of models from the past decade. According to a Feb. 10 press release, the law firms of Lieff Cabraser Heimann […]
Hall of Shame: MPI releases ‘Top 5 Frauds’ list for 2022
Winnipeg, Manitoba — The holiday season is over, and with that we as humans may resume the regularly scheduled fear and suspicion we love to direct toward one another, spurred on in part by things like the MPI “Top 5 Frauds” list of 2022, released just last week. Whether you like to shake your head […]
Without a Trace: Saskatchewan driver claims dream car missing, shows SGI stock photo as ‘proof’
Regina, Saskatchewan — There are plenty of ways drivers go about getting their dream cars. Some take the old-fashioned route and save their hard-earned cash; others bite the bullet and spontaneously pick up their dream vehicle hours after reading the Kijiji post. You could trade vehicles with a buddy or restore a classic to modern […]
Hall of Shame: MPI names top five auto insurance fraud cases of 2021
Winnipeg, Manitoba — People look forward to a year-end wrap-up list to help take stock; top albums of the year, top plays in the NHL, top baby names, etc. All of those are mere placeholders until Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) releases its top five auto insurance frauds of 2021. From blaming collisions on non-existent kidnappers […]
Traffic Troubles: Tow trucks block Toronto’s QEW highway in protest of incoming regulations
Mississauga, Ontario – Tow truck operators jammed westbound traffic on the QEW through Mississauga, Oakville and Burlington in protest on Friday. Reports say hundreds of drivers took part in the protest that blocked lanes as they made their way to the Niagara Region. The drivers were protesting new Ontario measures soon to be instituted that […]
Skim Scam: Auto insurance scam linked to Mississauga, Ont.-based insurance brokerage
Toronto, Ontario — If times weren’t tough enough for the average Canadian and their bank account, recent reports from the CBC are showing that some shady characters in the auto insurance industry are making things even tougher for customers in the Toronto area. Yasmine Sharaf is one such customer. Over the past year, the Torontonian […]
Pirated PPE: 3M works to curb counterfeit activity
London, Ontario — With an increase in counterfeit activity in connection with COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE), 3M has issued an information sheet detailing tips targeted at combatting the fraud. The company says its legal team members have investigated more than 9,900 reports globally of suspected fraud, counterfeiting and price gouging since the pandemic began […]
Ocean’s Elgin: OPP recover GM auto parts among $1.6 million stolen in truck heists
London, Ontario – A rash of truck hijackings in Elgin County in southern Ontario has seen local OPP recover more than $1.6 million in stolen merchandise as part of an investigation that also turned up a trailer full of General Motors auto parts. As part of a series of truck heists in the greater London […]
