Maple Ridge resident attempts to defraud ICBC — August 23

ICBC has a zero tolerance for fraud

Shawn Mungaroo of Maple Ridge recently pleaded guilty in Port Coquitlam Provincial Court to providing false information to ICBC, Section 42.1 of the Insurance (Motor Vehicle) Act. Mungaroo was fined $1500, ordered to pay $250 in outstanding expenses related to the claim, and had his claim denied.

"Zero tolerance for fraud is one of ICBC's strategies to help keep rates low and stable," said Steve Tripp, ICBC manager of Fraud Prevention Strategies. "It is not acceptable for ICBC to sit back and simply pass the cost of fraud onto our customers," said Tripp.

On January 2, 2006, Mungaroo contacted ICBC to report his vehicle had been involved in a hit and run incident. According to his statement, Mungaroo alleged his 1993 BMW 320i was damaged by an unidentified motorist on New Year's Day, while it was parked near the dikes in Pitt Meadows. The damage to the vehicle however, told a very different story.

Mungaroo's vehicle had bits of concrete imbedded in its rear bumper and the damage to the tail-lights indicated they were lit when impact occurred. When Mungaroo was re-interviewed by ICBC, he confessed that he had lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a concrete barrier on Highway 91A while coming off the Queensborough Bridge in New Westminster.

The cost to repair Mungaroo's vehicle was estimated at over $5600. Since Mungaroo's claim was denied, he is responsible to pay the cost of the repairs.

Last year, BC motorists saved more than $75 million to ICBC anti-fraud programs. ICBC estimates that fraud costs each of ICBC's policyholders in the range of $100 to $150 per year. The public is encouraged to help fight fraud by reporting suspicious, exaggerated or fraudulent claims. Information provided to ICBC's fraud tips line (604-661-6844 or 1-800-661-6844) is confidential and callers can remain anonymous.

Surrey resident attempts to defraud ICBC — August 16

ICBC has a zero tolerance for fraud

Entherdeep Gill of Surrey appeared in a Vancouver Provincial Court on July 18, 2007, where he pleaded guilty to providing a false or misleading statement to ICBC, Sec 42.1 of the Insurance (Motor Vehicle) Act. Gill was fined $1,000, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of $150, and repay ICBC $2,112.63, cost to repair the vehicle he hit.

"ICBC has a zero tolerance for fraud," said Steve Tripp, ICBC manager of Fraud Prevention Strategies. "We invest in insurance fraud prevention because less fraud means low and stable rates for our customers," said Tripp

On October 17, 2006, Gill contacted ICBC to report that his mother's 1994 Buick Regal was involved in a hit and run. Gill alleged the vehicle was hit while parked in a parking lot at the University of British Columbia (UBC). Gill attended an ICBC claim centre, a few days later, to provide his statement. A call to ICBC's fraud tips line encouraged ICBC to invest the claim further. The investigation revealed that Gill had lost control of the vehicle and hit an unoccupied parked car while driving along Marine Drive near UBC. Gill was later interviewed and admitted to filing the false claim.

"ICBC combats fraud to deter others and to recover fraudulent payments. Last year, BC motorists saved more than $75 million thanks to ICBC anti-fraud programs" said Tripp.

ICBC estimates that fraud costs each of ICBC's policyholders in the range of $100 to $150 per year. The public is encouraged to help fight fraud by reporting suspicious, exaggerated or fraudulent claims. Information provided to ICBC's fraud tips line (604-661-6844 or 1-800-661-6844) is confidential and callers can remain anonymous.

Three Nanaimo residents attempt to defraud ICBC — August 16

ICBC has a zero tolerance for fraud

Three Nanaimo residents are facing the consequences of attempting to defraud ICBC. In two separate investigations Douglas Ewart, Paul Pritchard and Tyson Airaksinen were charged under Sec. 42.1 of the Insurance (Motor Vehicle) Act for providing false information to ICBC.

"ICBC has a zero tolerance for fraud," said Steve Tripp, ICBC manager of Fraud Prevention Strategies. "We combat fraud to deter others and recover fraudulent payments. It is not acceptable to ICBC to simply sit back and pass along the cost of fraud to our customers," said Tripp

On October 23, 2006, Douglas Ewart reported to ICBC that his 2000 Volkswagen Jetta had sustained extensive damage while parked near the Gold River Highway in Campbell River. The adjuster investigating the claim became suspicious of what Ewart alleged was "new" damage. Upon further investigation, ICBC uncovered that some of the "new" damage was in fact old damage that had already been paid out by ICBC in a claim from November 2004. On June 20, 2007, Ewart pleaded guilty to providing false information to ICBC. He was fined $1,200, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of $180 and his claim was denied.

Paul Pritchard was prohibited from driving when he was involved in a single-vehicle collision on July 24, 2006 on Nanaimo River Road, in Nanaimo. Prior to reporting the crash to ICBC, Pritchard collaborated with a friend to falsely claim that this friend was the driver at the time of the crash. Witness testimony helped ICBC identify Pritchard as the actual driver at the time of the crash. Pritchard pleaded guilty on July 10, 2007 to providing false information to ICBC. He was fined $2,000, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of $300, and had his claim denied.

Last year, BC motorists saved more than $75 million to ICBC anti-fraud programs. ICBC estimates that fraud costs each of ICBC's policyholders in the range of $100 to $150 per year. The public is encouraged to help fight fraud by reporting suspicious, exaggerated or fraudulent claims. Information provided to ICBC's fraud tips line (604-661-6844 or 1-800-661-6844) is confidential and callers can remain anonymous.

A failed attempt to defraud ICBC — August 2

ICBC has a zero tolerance for fraud

Eric Loptson of Coquitlam recently appeared in a North Vancouver Provincial Court, where he pleaded guilty to providing a false and misleading statement to ICBC, Section 42.1 of the Insurance (Motor Vehicle) Act. Loptson was fined $2000.

"Zero tolerance for fraud is one of ICBC's strategies to help keep rates low and stable. It is not acceptable to ICBC to sit back and simply pass the cost of fraud onto our customers," said Steve Tripp, ICBC manager of Fraud Prevention Strategies.

On October 16, 2004, Loptson reported his 1998 Nissan Sentra stolen from a pub in Coquitlam. ICBC became suspicious of the claim and began to investigate after learning that Loptson's vehicle had been involved in a crash, prior to being reported stolen, and the driver of Loptson's vehicle had fled the scene.

A few days after reporting his vehicle stolen to ICBC, Loptson attended the Port Mann Highway Patrol office in relation to the crash. As Loptson was leaving the detachment, he had the misfortune of meeting the driver of the other vehicle involved in that crash. The other driver immediately identified Loptson to the police as the driver that had fled the scene. Loptson later confessed to ICBC that he had lied when reporting his claim, and as a result his claim was denied. The fraudulent claim was uncovered before ICBC paid out any money in relation to the claim.

"ICBC combats fraud to deter others and to recover fraudulent payments. Last year, BC motorists saved more than $75 million to ICBC anti-fraud programs," said Tripp

The public is encouraged to help fight fraud by reporting suspicious, exaggerated or fraudulent claims. Information provided to ICBC's fraud tips line (604-661-6844 or 1-800-661-6844) is confidential and callers can remain anonymous.

Copyright © 2008 ICBC - Insurance Corporation of British Columbia