And the losers are… MPI reveals year’s top thwarted fraud claims

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This article was published 29/12/2023 (648 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A high-speed crash, a bogus injury claim and a driver who denied being impaired were among Manitoba Public Insurance’s top attempted auto insurance frauds in 2023.

MPI released its annual list of fraudulent claims Friday in a bid to discourage people from trying to scam the Crown corporation and ratepayers.

Auto insurance fraud is estimated to cost MPI customers more than $50 million per year.

MPI said its special investigations unit closed more than 3,000 cases in the last year, saving the public insurer more than $10 million in false claims.

In one case, a person who was receiving MPI benefits following a crash claimed their injuries, including headaches, dizziness and neck and shoulder pain, were so severe they were unable to work, walk or drive more than 30 minutes at a time and lift more than five pounds.

However, the individual was seen running after a garbage truck, carrying a heavy jug of water, shovelling snow and shopping while under surveillance, said MPI.

The claimant’s personal injury protection plan benefits were halted, saving more than $57,000.

In another case, a driver claimed to have lost control of a luxury car at the posted speed limit of 60 km/h and hit a curb.

Severe damage suggested the vehicle was travelling at a much greater speed. Data recovered from the car revealed it was travelling 181 km/h — three times the speed limit — at the time of the crash, said MPI.

The $42,000 claim was denied and the driver’s licence was suspended.

In a third case, a driver claimed to have no knowledge of how their vehicle was damaged, but investigators spoke to witnesses who said the car almost hit a pedestrian while being driven erratically, and the driver was stumbling and seemed impaired, said MPI.

Police allegedly found open drugs and alcohol in the vehicle. MPI denied the claim and saved $60,000.

Other notable cases featured someone who falsely claimed their truck was stolen by someone using a missing key before it was involved in a rollover, and a motorist who was supposed to be accompanied by a supervising driver falsely claiming their spouse was a passenger when they rear-ended a vehicle while driving alone.