MPI reveals top 5 insurance frauds of 2014

Manitoba Public Insurance has released a list of what it’s calling the “top five frauds” of 2014 – including a new truck set ablaze and a hammer taken to a car to mimic hail.

MPI said their special investigations unit uncovered $7.5 million in fraud last year and investigates 3,000 claims every year.

1. Brand new truck set on fire

According to MPI officials, a man admitted he was “just mad at the world” when he destroyed his new pickup truck by setting it on fire.

MPI investigators reviewing the man’s claim found out he had gone home after a party, poured gasoline in the front seat of the truck and tossed in a match while his co-workers watched.

MPI officials said the fire caused an explosion and burned the man on his chest and arms. His co-workers later confessed, and the man has since been convicted of arson. He also had to pay a $2,000 fine.

2. The not-so-missing vehicle

MPI officials said a man opened a theft claim, saying his vehicle was stolen from his driveway during the day. MPI investigators later found out it had been repossessed after months of non-payment.

When investigators told the man, MPI officials said he was embarrassed and was unaware he was behind on his payments.

His $11,000 claim was denied.

3. Hammer vs. car

MPI investigators were looking over a $10,000 hail damage claim when they discovered many of the dents on a man’s car were man-made – with a hammer. The man later withdrew his claim.

4. Calling in sick

A Winnipeg driver was slapped with a $1,000 fine and forced to repay $12,000 to MPI after he pleaded guilty to making a false statement about being badly injured in a minor collision.

The man told cops at the scene he wasn’t hurt, but a few days later he opened an injury claim. He was given time off work and started receiving income replacement from MPI, according to the insurance corporation.

Then, MPI got an anonymous tip that he had been snowmobiling, running, shovelling show and refurbishing a trailer.

He was later criminally charged.

5. Racing dad’s car

A Winnipeg man submitted a claim for nearly $20,000 after claiming he lost control of his dad’s car and drove into a light standard.

According to MPI, the man said he was driving the speed limit but it was later discovered he was racing another car at high speeds.

The man’s father withdrew the claim and the son signed a promissory note to the City of Winnipeg for the light standard.

Anyone with information about insurance fraud is asked to call MPI at 204-985-8477 or 1-877-985-8477