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Etienne Berlinguet, Senior Vice President of Claims Canada at Intact, shares insights around how Intact is identifying fraud 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?
- EB: There are many different types of insurance fraud with new kinds appearing everyday. Some common instances include drivers who intentionally cause collisions, healthcare clinics that offer unnecessary treatments and individuals that fabricate insurance claims. It’s important to recognize that fraud can take many different forms and to always be vigilant.
Équité: How have fraud trends changed overtime?
- EB: One of the major trends that we’re seeing today is auto theft as thousands of vehicles are stolen across the country each year. To help avoid this, Intact is taking action by working with independent organizations like Équité to combat organized crime theft rings with police as well as identifying reVINs. Put simply, reVINs are stolen vehicles with repurposed VIN numbers that are quickly put up for sale online. When we handle a theft claim, we run the VIN numbers through a manufacturer recall database to see if the VIN attached to the stolen vehicle exists.
Équité: What is your organization doing to protect your clients and the communities they live in from the impacts of insurance fraud?
- EB: While we all have a part to play at Intact, our Investigative Services Unit is integral in providing safeguards against insurance fraud as well as investigating any suspicious claims. For any suspicious claims, adjuster referrals are the main source of lead generation and there are established red flag protocols that are followed. As our people are representative of the communities we serve, they are provided with a general understanding of where fraud exists and how to prevent it. Addressing fraud is a true team effort and it helps us to focus on what ultimately matters which is helping our customers get back on track.
Équité: How is technology influencing how you approach fraud detection?
- EB: To help our team generate leads, in addition to adjuster referrals, we also utilize a number of different technologies. Some of the tools that we use to detect fraud include reports to help our adjusters and investigators learn critical details about a vehicle’s history in addition to Bosch/Berla Downloads which is utilized in some provinces to get forensic evidence on a vehicle’s GPS tracking and mobility calls. These tools in addition to numerous others are crucial in helping our investigations and allow us to be as vigilant as possible. To stay ahead of the game, we are always looking for other possible tools to help us mitigate 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. 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. Fraud always has a victim, and criminals typically target those who are the most vulnerable. In collaboration with Équité Association, our members are working to protect Canadians against insurance crimes, a top priority rooted in public safety.
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