ICBC cruises social media to catch fraudsters

Motorists hoping to chisel a few extra dollars out of an auto claim are being warned that the Insurance Corporation of B.C. has its cyber eye on them.

A release from ICBC notes it is fighting fraud by taking many of its investigations online.

A release from the Crown corporation says 2,350 Internet investigations were initiatedin 2015, frontline staff are receiving more training to detect fraud, and special fraud-flagging software is being introduced.

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Investigators have already snared a woman who claimed she was too injured to work, yet participated in a roller derby, and a man who completed a demanding obstacle race was caught after saying he'd been seriously hurt in a car crash.

In several cases, investigators simply checked Facebook or other social media profiles of suspected fraudsters, revealing claimants enjoying strenuous sports despite alleging severe injuries.

ICBC says fraud costs the public auto insurer up to $600 million annually, raising premium prices for all drivers, and it urges everyone to report suspicious activities linked to vehicle accidents or claims.