One insurer’s fraud information hotline has paid dividends, with an Ancaster woman being charged with Obstructing Justice and Fraud following an eleven-month long investigation.
An anonymous tip about a collision from back in February to
Aviva Canada’s Fraud Information Centre has led to charges of Obstructing Justice and Fraud Over $5,000 against Brenda Trembley, age 49, of Ancaster, Ont.
“
Aviva Canada is extremely grateful to two callers to our Fraud Information Centre,” said Gordon Rasbach, Vice President of
Aviva Canada’s Anti-Fraud unit. “The influx of public tips like these really highlights the concern of consumers in protecting their insurance rates.”
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Trembley is scheduled to appear before a Hamilton court on January 15, 2015.
On February 14, the Fraud Information Centre received an anonymous tip about a collision involving Aviva Canada policyholder, Brenda Trembley. The caller indicated that Trembley was not driving her vehicle at the time of the collision, contrary to her report to the Hamilton Police Service and Aviva Canada.
She was covering for her uninsured daughter, the actual driver.
During the course of Aviva Canada’s investigation into the matter, another tip was received by the Fraud Information Centre. The caller validated the original anonymous tip and explained that her motivation for calling was so that “good, upstanding people who follow the rules shouldn’t have to pay for people like Brenda Trembley.”
Aviva Canada’s investigation revealed that Trembley was not the driver at the time of collision and that she had coerced the driver of the other vehicle involved into going along with her story to cover for her uninsured daughter. (continued.)
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Furthermore, in order to obtain a cheaper premium, Trembley had committed underwriting fraud by deliberately not disclosing that her daughter, a licensed driver, resided in her household.
In July, after completing its investigation, Aviva Canada provided the office of the Chief of Police in Hamilton, Ont. with its findings.
“We’re urging the public to be aware of those who may attempt to involve you in a potential fraud for their own selfish interests,” said Rasbach. “We frequently learn of attempts to falsify collision loss details when reported. It’s usually someone who has something to lose, as in this case, or alternatively, something to gain when it’s facilitated by disreputable automotive repair facilities and tow truck operators. What can seem like participating in someone’s white lie at the time may ultimately implicate you in criminal activity.”
Insurance fraud is estimated to cost the industry more than $1.6 billion dollars annually.
