Fraud Prevention Month is an annual awareness campaign which aims to educate Canadians on how to recognize and protect themselves from becoming a victim of fraud. Insurers are doing more than ever before to protect their customers, and by joining Équité Association, members have access to specific anti-fraud expertise designed to prevent and disrupt insurance crime.

Etienne Berlinguet, Senior Vice President of Claims Canada at Intact, shares insights around emerging fraud trends and working to keep their customers and communities safe. Intact Insurance is Canada's largest home, auto and business insurance company, with over four million customers.  

Équité: For Fraud Prevention Month, what type of insurance fraud would you like to raise awareness about and why?

• Etienne Berlinguet (EB): Insurance fraud can take many forms and is continually evolving. Some cases involve using technology like AI to commit fraud, reporting vandalism claims for vehicles that show maintenance issues rather than vandalism, altering VIN numbers to disguise stolen cars and staging accidents.
  
  In general, auto theft, which is often linked to crime rings, remains a serious concern. At the same time, there have been positive developments in this area. I’m pleased to share that with the combined efforts of the Équité Association and various partners, we have seen an 18.6% decrease in auto theft in 2024 in Canada for the P&C market. That said, it’s important that we remain vigilant in investigating suspicious claims.  

Équité:  What is your organization doing to protect your clients and the communities they live in from the impacts of insurance fraud?

• EB: We’re dedicated to staying ahead of the curve to protect customers and our business. Our strategy involves several key components. We have dedicated Investigative Services teams across the country who work tirelessly to investigate suspicious activities. Additionally, we partner with organizations like the Équité Association to enhance our ability to respond to emerging threats. We also invest in data analysis and leverage technology to strengthen our fight against fraud. What’s more, we’re improving our tools to better detect commercial property fraud.
  Above all else, I’d say the most important resource we have is our employees. Their commitment to ongoing education and vigilant monitoring of claims truly strengthens our defenses and keeps us agile in this ever-changing landscape.

Équité: How have fraud trends changed over time?

• EB: Fraud has evolved over time due to many factors including technological advancements, regulatory changes, and economic conditions. We’re seeing a variety of trends such as staged auto accidents, exaggerated and false claims, and medical billing fraud like overcharging and billing for services not provided. In each of these instances, fraudsters don’t always act alone; they often collude with others to fabricate their claims.

Équité: How is technology influencing how you approach fraud detection?

• EB: As attempts at fraud have become more sophisticated and technical, our response has been strong. For example, we use advanced technology to retrieve and analyze critical data from a vehicle’s Event Data Recorder, which includes information like speed, airbag deployment, and seatbelt engagement. While fraud trends are evolving, so is our ability to stop it in its tracks. From well-trained adjusters to game-changing technology, we’re better positioned than ever to spot and stop fraud.

Fraud always has a victim, and criminals typically target those who are the most vulnerable. On behalf of the insurance industry, Équité works with decision-makers to close gaps and vulnerabilities in existing regulations and policies. In collaboration with Équité Association, our members are working to protect Canadians against insurance fraud and crimes.