A Grizzly Break-In: Insurers say bear that damaged luxury vehicles in California was actually a person in a costume
Los Angeles, California – While bears breaking into vehicles is nothing new, in what has been dubbed “Operation Bear Claw,” the California Insurance Department has reported that four Los Angeles residents were arrested on Wednesday after breaking into vehicles dressed in a bear costume. Specifically, the four residents were accused of defrauding three insurance companies […]
Aviva Advisory: Insurer warns of ghost brokers in Canadian market
Toronto, Ontario — Aviva Canada is cautioning Canadians to beware of a ghost broker known as AllcoveredbyAviva or Allcoveredbrokers advertising on social media sites such as Facebook, claiming to be affiliated with Aviva and selling fake insurance, the insurer wrote last week in a release. “It has come to our attention that Canadians are being scammed by representatives of […]
Insurance Insecurities: One in 10 Ontario drivers have experienced auto insurance fraud claims survey
Toronto, Ontario — A recent survey conducted by InsuranceHotline.com has found that one in 10 Ontario drivers have experienced some form of auto insurance fraud. Specifically, the survey found that nearly 53 percent of respondents believe auto insurance fraud is a serious problem in Ontario, while an additional 24 percent believe that it could be […]
Faking It: Manitoba Public Insurance unveils top claims fraud cases in 2023
Winnipeg, Manitoba — To close out 2023, MPI has created a list of some of its most ridiculous attempts at insurance fraud claims for the year. According to MPI’s Special Investigation Unit (SIU), auto insurance fraud in Manitoba costs more than $50 million every year. In 2023, the SIU closed more than 3,000 investigations of […]
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 […]
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 […]
Fraud Stoppers: Terri O’Brien appointed as CEO of anti insurance fraud organization
Toronto, Ontario — Terri O’Brien has been appointed as the CEO for Équité Association, the Canadian insurance industry’s first corporation dedicated to eliminating insurance crime. O’Brien brings over 25 years of experience of financial services to her new role. Prior to Équité, O’Brien was Chief Risk Officer (CRO) at Pace Credit Union, CRO at Interac […]
Sledgehammer to the Slammer: Ex-body shop owner found guilty of purposely damaging customers vehicles
Worcester, Massachusetts — A former bodyshop owner in the U.S. has now pleaded guilty to 18 counts of insurance fraud for using mallets, sledgehammers and wood to cause more damage to customers’ vehicles in a case of insurance fraud. Adam Haddad owned Accurate Collision in Worcester, and his security cameras caught him on tape purposely […]
No Longer Hidden: FSRA warning consumers Hidden Ace Brokerage is not licensed to conduct insurance business in Ontario
Toronto, Ontario —It has come to FSRA’s attention that Hidden Ace Brokerage is conducting an auto insurance business without a licence to sell. The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) is warning consumers that Hidden Ace Brokerage is not licensed by the Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario (RIBO) and is not licensed as […]
Slip-pery Salesman: Alberta insurance agent fined $26,000 for fraudulent insurance certificates
Calgary, Alberta — The Alberta Insurance Council has issued a fine of $26,000 against a former insurance agent found to have issued fraudulent insurance certificates to clients— the majority of which were automobile insurance certficates. The Alberta Insurance Council (AIC) found that insurance agent, Hakan Bahadir, on 52 occasions, “created fraudulent insurance certificates which were […]