Ontario regulator launches auto insurance fraud hotline

The Financial Services Commission of Ontario has launched a tip line for consumers to report suspected fraud related to auto insurance in the province.

Consumers can call 1-855-5TIP-NOW or report through a website, www.fsco.gov.on.ca/TIPNOW. In both cases, they have the option to leave contact information with their tip or report anonymously.  

The hotline is a response to a recommendation made in the Auto Insurance Anti-Fraud Task Force’s final report to the Ontario government.

“FSCO has always handled tips about fraudulent activity in our regulated sectors, including auto insurance, and this hotline is an enhancement of our existing processes,” a spokesperson from the regulator noted in an email to Canadian Underwriter.

The hotline has been “soft launched” to make sure the back-end technology and support is working, then FSCO plans to promote the tip line to consumers, the spokesperson added.

Remember to tune in to #fraudchat at 9PM ET w/ @kristenjrose & @cfieldFCU — the topic is avoiding travel scams.

— FSCOTweets (@FSCOTweets) July 4, 2013

FSCO has also been making efforts on Twitter to spread information on auto insurance fraud to consumers. In its statement of priorities for this year, the organization said it plans to continue its outreach efforts.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada also operates hotlines where consumers can report suspected insurance crime. It regularly cites estimates that auto insurance fraud in Ontario is as high as $1.6 billion annually.