With the New Year now upon us, Manitoba Public Insurance has come out with its list of the top 5 Frauds from 2023.
Topping the list was a vehicle collision claim where the driver and vehicle owner could not remember what had happened to cause the damage.
After an investigation, it turns out the same vehicle was seen driving erratically and causing damage to property, as well as colliding with another parked car and almost hitting a pedestrian.
Police also seized open drugs and alcohol from the vehicle.
With that claim being denied, MPI says the cost savings to ratepayers as a result was over $60,000.
Among the other cases that made the top 5 was a vehicle damage claim that was denied after it was determined the vehicle was traveling three times faster than the claim of 60 km an hour.
Also included on the list was a case where it turned out a vehicle had rear-ended another one, although the driver claimed no fault in the instance.
The driver also claimed that they were in the vehicle with their spouse at the time, although the investigation determined that the driver was actually alone at the time.
That was also a no-no, as the driver had licence restrictions requiring that they had to have a supervising driver with them at all times.
Another case involved an individual who was receiving benefits from MPI's Personal Injury Protection Plan.
The individual claimed injuries suffered in a collision led to dizziness, headaches, and other ailments that prevented them from working, adding they could also not walk or drive for more than 30 minutes at a time or lift any items more than 5 pounds.
But thanks to surveillance, the claimant was seen carrying a full water jug, shoveling snow, and running after a garbage truck with no indications of pain or dizziness.
In total, MPI's Special Investigations Unit closed over three thousand investigations in 2023, which resulted in claims savings of over 10.5 million dollars.
