IBC teams up with Toronto's Boom 97.3 with contest that lets listeners vote for Canada's Dumbest Criminal

TORONTO, March 7, 2013 /CNW/ - It's amazing the lengths to which some people will go to cheat their insurance company. Some of the weird and wacky things they do to make false insurance claims are funny - and just plain dumb!  But fraud is no laughing matter.

March is Fraud Prevention Month and Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) has teamed up with Toronto radio station Boom 97.3 to run a unique contest that allows listeners to vote for Canada's Dumbest Criminal: http://www.boom973.com/IBC/dumbestcriminal.aspx

After clicking on Boom 97.3's website to enter the contest, people will read five true stories of insurance claims that left investigators shaking their heads.  They can then cast their vote for the criminal that they consider to be the dumbest.

For example, a man actually pushed a toothpick up his nose to get blood flowing then asked his girlfriend to run into him with her car a few times to create a fake crime scene.  Ouch!

Then there's another man who tried to hide a 21-foot sailboat that he said was stolen in his 18-foot garage! 

After voting, contestants will be encouraged to "Like" IBC's Facebook page to check on contest winner updates.  They can also enter a draw to win one of six iPad Minis from IBC.  The contest runs between March 4 and March 17.

"It never fails to amaze me the extent to which people will go to defraud the system," says Rick Dubin, Vice-President, Investigations, IBC. "But auto insurance fraud is very serious and costs Canadians considerably more than $1.6 billion a year in insurance premiums and health care, emergency services and court costs.  Insurance criminals take money right out of our pockets."

About Insurance Bureau of Canada
Insurance Bureau of Canada is the national industry association representing Canada's private home, car and business insurers. Its member companies represent 90% of the property and casualty (P&C) insurance market in Canada. The P&C insurance industry employs over 115,000 Canadians, pays more than $7 billion in taxes to the federal, provincial and municipal governments, and has a total premium base of $44 billion.

To view media releases and other information, visit the media section of IBC's website at www.ibc.ca, for IBC on Twitter follow @insurancebureau or like us on Facebook.

If you require more information, IBC spokespeople are available to discuss the details in this media release.

SOURCE: INSURANCE BUREAU OF CANADA

To schedule an interview, please contact:

Ellen Woodger
Communications Consultant
Insurance Bureau of Canada
416-483-2358
[email protected]

Helen Lialias
Media Relations
Officer Insurance
Bureau of Canada
416-362-2031 ext. 4312
[email protected]