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January 20, 2016 - 1:00 PM
KAMLOOPS - This year's 'hall of shame' fraud files from ICBC include a man betrayed by his electronic key’s data history, another by his dash cam and yet another who simply didn't want to do the dishes.
ICBC has released what it calls the top six fraud files of 2015, a hall of shame for insurance fraudsters.
Making the list this year is one man betrayed by his electronic key’s data history after his BMW was found burnt in a nearby park. He claimed his vehicle was stolen but the data on his key fob showed it had been used after he last claimed it had been.
Two others who claimed injuries from collisions kept them from doing physical work. One man claimed he couldn’t help with household chores, but was caught moving heavy boxes of tiles at a work site, while a woman said she couldn’t return to work after a crash. An anonymous tip to ICBC meant her plan to collect double pay collapsed.
One quick thinking man tried to take advantage of a collision between a bus and a firetruck, jumping on the bus when the driver went to talk to the fire truck driver. However, the bus security cameras showed he hadn’t been near the bus at the time of the collision.
In another case, a mom reported her car stolen and claimed only her sons had access to the car, apart from her. She said they were at home when the car was stolen from her work. Police found the car, crashed into a fence. When investigators looked into the case they found out one of her sons could be placed with the car, thanks to security cameras, and also at the scene of the crash through telephone records. His license was suspended at the time, and he had to serve 90 days in jail as well, while his mother was fined for providing a false statement.
One man happily handed over the dash cam video taken when his vehicle was sideswiped. Unfortunately for him, the video also showed he was not the driver as he claimed, and the driver was actually unlicensed.
ICBC says in the release most claims are honest, but data analysis company SAS estimates 10 to 20 per cent of claims may be fake or exaggerated. Fraudulent claims could cost B.C. drivers $100 on their insurance policies, according to the insurance corporation.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Brendan Kergin at bkergin@infonews.ca or call 250-819-6089. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2016