Resources

Understanding how identity theft fuels both vehicle loan fraud and illegal auto theft rings is essential for Canadian drivers looking to safeguard their financial security and protect their credit rating. As part of Équité Association’s Fortifying Your Fall Fraud Defences campaign, our expert investigators are highlighting how organized crime networks are evolving auto theft tactics to exploit the vehicle finance system.

As dusk falls earlier on crisp autumn days, a breakdown or minor fender-bender on a poorly lit shoulder can quickly turn from an inconvenience into a high-stress situation. Predatory tow operators and dishonest auto body shops may exploit this roadside anxiety through insurance fraud for financial gain. These types of fraud may be done in collusion with a network of individuals or organizations. For example, the auto repair facility may conspire with the tow truck company to provide inflated fees for services in exchange for kickback payments.

From chilly mornings to earlier sunsets, autumn weather conditions present unique risks for auto theft. As part of Équité’s Fortifying Your Fall Fraud Defences campaign, we have created an Autumn Auto Theft Protection list to help educate drivers on some of the ways opportunistic criminals may take advantage of darker days and colder weather.

Équité Association’s expert investigators are noting an increasingly common tactic of auto thefts targeting public places such as shopping malls, hotels and airports. Organized crime networks are evolving to find ways to continue to generate funds from auto theft, including insurance fraud, to fund international terrorism, guns and drugs.

A notable case featured by Radio-Canada (French only) highlighted a sophisticated and increasingly common tactic used by organized crime rings: using small tracking devices to stalk and steal high-end vehicles. As more is being done to prevent auto theft, car thieves are evolving to find new ways to victimize car owners and communities.

Fraud always has a victim, and criminals typically target those who are the most vulnerable. Accident benefits fraud is known as a ‘gateway fraud’, because is the entry point for deeply complex and sophisticated organized fraud networks, including synthetic identify fraud, healthcare fraud and more.

A ghost broker is someone who pretends to be a legitimate insurance broker or agent but is in actuality selling fake insurance policies.

Cargo theft continues to be a growing problem in Canada. The financial impacts of cargo theft ripple all the way to the end consumer, while the harm it causes within the supply chain industry is not only financial, but also physical. Recognized as a low risk, high reward crime, cargo theft is often connected to organized crime networks who use the proceeds to fund other criminal activities, such as the trafficking of drugs and guns.

Every vehicle manufactured in Canada has a unique vehicle identification number (VIN) that can be used to track recalls, insurance registration and the history of the respective vehicle.

As Albertans get ready for another cold snap this winter, Équité Association and the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police (AACP) are warning people to be aware of warm-up thefts through Operational Cold Start.