Manitoba Public Insurance lists top five frauds of 2006

Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) cited a woman that claimed $12,000 over 18 months following a car crash for treatment expenses as the most expensive fraud case in 2006.
Rounding out the top five frauds for the year were: a ‘stolen’ car found to have been sold; a false statement regarding a driver’s identity following a collision; lying about employment when making a claim for income replacement; and staging a vehicle theft, says an MPI press release.
All five cases were caught as a result of investigations by MPI’s special investigations unit.
MPI estimates that over the past three years the anti-fraud unit has saved the organization about Cdn $40 million through recovery or the denial of fraudulent claims.
In the top case of 2006 to pass through the courts the woman’s doctor suggested swimming might provide relief from pain following an auto crash, and for a year and a half she submitted for reimbursement for her travel expenses and pool-passes to her MPI case manager.
Except that she never actually used the swimming facility, says information from the MPI.
“After her scam was discovered, the woman pled guilty to fraud over $5,000,” the release continues.
In addition to being ordered to pay $12,000 in restitution and serve a one-year conditional sentence, she also must perform 144 hours of community service.