Guilty conscience prompts driver to seek spiritual help

By LAUREEN McMAHON

A few months ago, a young B.C. man entered the confessional in his parish to make a clean breast of his sins before God and receive absolution from his priest.

He told the pastor that his conscience had been troubling him, as he had filed two false auto theft claims, one going back a number of years, with the Insurance Corporation of B.C.

The answer was obvious, the priest told him; he could only find peace of mind though making restitution to those he had defrauded.

Several months ago, the man contacted ICBC’s Fraud Prevention and Investigation department and arranged for the delivery of a certified cheque to cover what he owed, which, it turned out, was close to $20,000!

“I never met anyone so happy to repay fraudulent claims,” said Michael Girard, ICBC Manager of Fraud Litigation. “Usually the people we deal with are pretty miserable because we have uncovered fraud and are threatening to sue them if they do not make full restitution and pay punitive damages.”

In this case, said Girard, because the individual who made the fraudulent claims had owned up to what he had done and had paid back the money he had stolen, ICBC opted to waive its right to initiate a civil claim. The insurance corporation agreed not to seek any additional expenses, interest charges, or punitive damages, as would have been the case had the fraud been discovered by its investigators.

Girard and Mike Chicoine, ICBC’s Fraud Prevention and Investigation Department manager, said they have heard countless stories about why someone would attempt to defraud. However, while some people seem to be able to survive knowing what they have done is illegal, said Girard, “We know that a guilty conscience is a powerful thing, and in this case, we are pleased that an individual was able to make a clean start with the help of his spiritual adviser.”

In 2004, working in conjunction with ICBC’s collections department, the corporation’s fraud department was able to recoup over $650,000 which had been paid out for fraudulent claims. That’s money, said Girard, which comes out of everyone’s pocket.

“It’s an important part of our zero-tolerance approach to fraud,” said Girard, who wrote a letter of appreciation on behalf of all policyholders to the former fraudster for his honesty in coming forth to make restitution.

Anyone aware of claims in which ICBC has been defrauded of funds can contact the Fraud Prevention and Investigation department at 604-507-3700.