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'Considering the circumstances ... this is best-case scenario,' Cole Cusitar said.
Every year, fraudulent claims cost insurance companies millions of dollars. Through its investigations, SGI saved an estimated $5.6 million in 2018.
In a creatively written release, the Crown corporation compared its team that works to find the truth and recover money to the TV show “Law & Order.”
“The dedicated men and women who investigate cases of suspected insurance fraud are members of an elite squad known as the Special Investigation Unit (SIU),” the release read. “These are their stories. *dun dun*.”
SGI is out with its picks for the top five insurance fraud schemes of 2018, each with its own clever title.
D-N-Airbags
This fraudster was betrayed by their own DNA.
They claimed to SGI that their keys were stolen and therefore the claimant could not have been behind the wheel at the scene of a crash. The crash happened just blocks from the person’s home, severely damaging parked vehicles.
Investigators suspected otherwise and found the owner’s DNA on the airbag. The claim was denied and the owner was responsible for paying back the $15,000 in damages paid out by SGI.
Caught on camera!
Another driver was busted after claiming her vehicle was stolen, but she actually was in the passenger seat during a hit and run.
SGI said when the claimant was interviewed by SIU, she admitted she was covering for her unlicensed friend who was behind the wheel at the time.
The denied claim resulted in $60,000 in savings.
Cooking with gas
This hot scheme backfired when something didn’t smell right to investigators.
SGI said one fraudster cooked up the story of their truck bursting into flames as they warmed it up on a cold day.
That didn’t explain the gas-soaked fabric or the surveillance footage showing the multiple fires that were set on purpose inside the vehicle.
The claim was denied and SGI saved $28,000 for the replacement cost for the truck. The fraudster was charged with arson for a fraudulent purpose.
Total burnout
SGI wouldn’t let another fraudulent claim involving a flaming vehicle burn a hole in its wallet.
While the customer claimed the vehicle was stolen, a witness described an argument before the fire. The witness also had video showing multiple people leaving the scene, with one person saying, “Let it burn!”
The SIU discovered the vehicle was not stolen, putting the owner in hot water. They were charged with mischief by arson for burning their own vehicle. SGI saved $4,400.
Doggone it!
SGI calls this one the insurance fraud version of “the dog ate my homework.”
A customer filed a claim, saying they swerved to avoid a dog on the road and ended up completely submerged in a slough.
The claim was settled, but SGI later received a tip saying the claim was a lie. SGI even found video proving the incident was done on purpose.
The customer was required to pay back the $2,000 payout from SGI.