RANKIN INLET, NU and TORONTO, July 22, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fraudulent insurance claims result in higher premiums for customers. In efforts to protect policy holders, Aviva Canada even goes to remote parts of the country to pursue fraudulent activity. Aviva Canada, one of the country's leading providers of home, auto, recreational vehicle, group and business insurance, today announced charges against a taxi business operator in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut.
On December 30, 2013, David Wiseman, owner of S &G Taxi in Rankin Inlet, reported a furnace fire causing extensive damage to the interior of his taxi business. Fire investigators determined the cause of the fire to be accidental. It is alleged that Wiseman filed false invoices in excess of $50,000, in order to illegally gain additional funds from Aviva Canada.
Wiseman reported that as a result of the fire and damage to his furnace, he was required to rent industrial heaters to heat his property such that S &G Taxi could remain in operation. Additionally, he claimed to have incurred cleanup expenses for the removal of soot from the interior of the property. Invoices were submitted to Aviva Canada amounting to approximately $347,000.
The independent adjuster handling the claim on Aviva Canada's behalf observed an inaccurate rental start date and a fictional vendor name listed on the invoice for the heaters. Additionally, he noted that a cleanup of the property did not take place. Aviva Canada's subsequent investigation found evidence to suggest that Wiseman misrepresented his loss by allegedly submitting false invoices and attempting to defraud the company of approximately $56,000.
The matter was turned over to the RCMP in Rankin Inlet and Wiseman was charged with:
- Falsification of documents, and
- Using false receipts.
The accused has been summoned by the RCMP to appear before the Nunavut Court of Justice in Rankin Inlet on August 10, 2015. Aviva Canada will also act on its entitlement to deny payment of Wiseman's entire claim as a result of his alleged exaggeration.
"Fraud can happen anywhere", commented Gordon Rasbach, Vice President, Anti-Fraud Management, Aviva Canada. "We are committed to identify and fight fraud to protect our customers in every corner of the country."
Help protect affordable insurance premiums for all Canadians by reporting potential fraud to Aviva Canada's Fraud Information Centre — open 24/7. Email anti-fraud_management@avivacanada.com or call 1-855-332-5255.
What Aviva Canada is doing to fight fraud
Building on already strong capabilities, Aviva Canada has stepped up its tough approach to tackling fraud with more dedicated resources and an investment in technology that aims to identify fraud and even anticipate the potential for fraud before it happens. With an industry-leading anti-fraud team, plus solid public sector and industry collaboration, Aviva Canada is well positioned to combat fraud better than ever before. The impact of Insurance fraud in Canada is estimated at over $1.6 billion dollars annually. Visit https://www.avivacanada.com/fraud-prevention to learn more about our anti-fraud initiatives and how you can protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud.
About Aviva Canada
Aviva Canada is one of the leading property and casualty insurance groups in Canada providing home, auto and business insurance to more than three million customers. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of UK-based Aviva plc and has more than 3,000 employees, 25 locations and 1,700 independent broker partners. Aviva Canada invests in positive change through the Aviva Community Fund, Canada's longest running online community funding competition. Since its inception in 2009, the Aviva Community Fund has awarded $5.5 million to over 100 communities nationwide.
For more information about Aviva Canada, visit AvivaCanada.com, our blog or our Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn pages.