Manitoba’s Top 5 insurance fraud claims of 2025

A claimant suffering severe burns after intentionally setting a truck on fire was one of Manitoba Public Insurance’s (MPI) Top 5 fraud cases in 2025.

The public auto insurer suspected fraud in more than 2,600 physical damage and bodily injury claims last year, “so narrowing the list to only five is challenging,” MPI said in a press release late last year.

As in other provinces, insurance fraud remains costly in Manitoba. MPI says investigations from its Special Investigations Unit (SIU) saved Manitoba ratepayers nearly $17 million in attempted auto insurance fraud in 2025.

“While many of you will shake your heads or even chuckle at the audacity of some of these cases we are highlighting, MPI is sharing these fraud attempts to emphasize that insurance fraud has a cost, and that cost is borne by all of us in Manitoba,” says John Bowering, MPI’s vice president and chief claims officer.

“Our SIU team is committed to seeking out instances of fraud, and they have a breadth of expertise when it comes to investigations. Their hard work saves Manitobans money and maintains the integrity of our public insurance system.”

Here are MPI’s Top 5 fraud cases of 2025:

Injured arsonist

A claimant was treated at a hospital for significant burn injuries after a sudden and violent explosion engulfed their commercial truck in flames in a hotel parking lot.

The claimant reported to police and medical professionals they had fought the blaze with a fire extinguisher for 10 minutes, trying to save the vehicle.

But SIU’s investigation found video evidence of the claimant methodically staging and executing the arson.

“The explosion appeared unplanned and is what caused the claimant’s injuries,” MPI says. “At no time was there any evidence of attempts to extinguish the fire.”

The claim was denied, saving ratepayers approximately $1 million.

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Porsche hunt

Both parties involved in a two-vehicle collision made a claim. But each party’s accounts did not match up, nor did the evidence from the scene.

Turns out the parties in both vehicles knew each other.

An SIU investigation found the driver of the first vehicle passed by the home of the second vehicle — a Porsche — and circled back when the Porsche began to reverse out of the driveway.

The first vehicle accelerated, striking the Porsche while its driver attempted to take evasive action. The driver of the first vehicle said they tried to avoid the collision, but there was no room due to parked vehicles.

After the collision, the Porsche driver exited the vehicle and ran into the residence, then came back shortly after with additional people.

As reported to MPI, the fully licensed registered owner of the vehicle was driving with two others in the vehicle. But investigators found the registered owner was not in the vehicle. An individual with a learner’s licence was the only occupant of the Porsche and driving illegally.

“False statements were provided by both vehicle drivers,” MPI says. “An intentional act caused the collision.”

The claim was denied, saving ratepayers approximately $154,000.

Covert cases of beer

After a minor collision with minimal reported injuries and damage, a claimant initially said they could perform certain aspects of their job. But as the claim continued, they reported being unable to complete tasks due to significant pain.

The claimant’s business required them to purchase and transport bulk supplies. The claimant reported their lifting capacity was “zero to five pounds, maximum, with a very low tolerance for most activities,” MPI says. Based on the extent of the injury and nature of the claimant’s work, they were entitled to income replacement benefits.

SIU initiated surveillance; the claimant was “routinely seen out of their home running errands and doing work for their business” for approximately seven to 10 hours every day.

“The claimant was observed shopping at several beer vendors and loading up to 18-20 cases of beer into the trunk of their vehicle without assistance,” MPI says. “The claimant continued to be seen lifting heavy items and carrying equipment without any evidence of pain or difficulty.”

Benefits were terminated, saving ratepayers more than $480,000. Efforts are being made to reclaim $19,000 in benefits already paid to the claimant, MPI reports.

Dubai bound

A claimant reported returning to a parking lot to find their vehicle stolen.

MPI paid the claimant after reaching a settlement. After the payment, MPI was notified by a separate investigating agency that the vehicle had been intercepted in a shipping container in Ontario heading to Dubai, along with 14 other vehicles.

SIU investigators discovered the vehicle was reported stolen after it had already been in Ontario for several days. The vehicle was examined, and there were no indications of forced entry or tampering with the ignition.

MPI is in the process of reclaiming the $51,657.54 that was paid out for this fraudulent claim.

Body builder

After a minor two-vehicle collision, a claimant reported injuries so severe they were unable to go to work, take care of themselves, or cook and perform housekeeping duties for themselves and their children. “It was reported that the injuries caused very high pain levels with any activity, including just sitting down,” MPI says.

Based on the extent of injury, this meant the claimant was entitled to income replacement benefits and personal care assistance payments.

However, an SIU investigation “found the claimant spent much of their time at the gym, lifting heavy weights while bending and squatting, making household chores seem mild in comparison.”

MPI terminated all income replacement and personal care benefits, saving ratepayers more than $300,000.

Overall, MPI’s SIU team saved Manitoba ratepayers about $17 million in 2025. About $2 million of that came from the investigations of the Top 5 fraudulent claims.

Jason Contant

Jason has been an award-winning journalist with Canadian Underwriter for more than a decade, including the past three years as associate editor and, before that, as digital editor for seven years.