Two men in Ontario and Quebec charged in separate fraudulent vehicle theft claims: Aviva Canada

Aviva Canada said on Wednesday that two men have been charged in connection with two separate fraudulent vehicle theft claims.

The first case involved Andy James, who reported to the Toronto Police Service on July 21, 2014 that his 2006 Chevrolet Avalanche, insured by Aviva Canada, had been stolen from a parking lot in Etobicoke, Ont. That same day, he made a claim for the loss of his vehicle, Aviva Canada said in a press release.

Aviva Canada’s investigation into James’ claim determined that approximately one month prior to reporting the theft, he sold the vehicle to a buyer in Scarborough, Ont. Aviva Canada – a provider of home, auto, leisure/lifestyle and business insurance – denied the claim and reported the findings of the investigation to the Toronto Police Service.

James turned himself in to police on Dec. 21, 2015, after being contacted by detectives at 41 Division regarding the matter. At that time, police charged him with fraud over $5,000 and public mischief.

James will appear before a Toronto court on March 1.

The second case focuses on Steve Thibault, who obtained a property policy from Aviva Canada on Sept. 5, 2013, the insurer said in the press release. Nineteen days later, Thibault reported to the Québec provincial police – the Sûreté du Québec – and Aviva Canada that his all-terrain vehicle (ATV) had been stolen from his garage while he was at home in L’Épiphanie, Québec.

An Aviva Canada investigation revealed that Thibault had obtained the property policy the day after his ATV had been stolen, and that he had misrepresented the date and circumstances of the theft to both Aviva Canada and the Sûreté du Québec. Aviva Canada denied Thibault’s $9,000 claim and voided his property policy.

On Jan. 28, 2016, Thibault attended the Joliette Courthouse and pleaded guilty to charges of attempted fraud over $5,000.

“We have a duty to report to police any instance of criminal responsibility uncovered during the course of an investigation,” said Sarah Zimmerman, senior vice president of automobile & property claims at Aviva Canada, in the press release. “We will not let our honest policyholders pay for the fraud committed by a small minority. We are grateful to the Toronto Police Service and la Sûreté du Québec for taking action on this matter, and helping us send a clear message that fraud is a criminal offence that will not be tolerated.”

The impact of Insurance fraud in Canada is estimated at over $1.6 billion dollars annually.