Insurance Fraud Follies - What were they thinking?

TORONTO, March 20, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - There's nothing funny about insurance fraud. After all, it costs insurance companies and their honest policyholders. But sometimes you can't help but laugh at some of the outrageous scams and schemes of would-be fraud artists.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is leading the fight against insurance fraud on behalf of the industry and its customers. For Fraud Awareness Month, IBC has collected some true stories of recent claims that left investigators shaking their heads.

The Repo Man

The driveway was empty and the car was gone. That part of the man's story was indeed true. He had reported that his car had been stolen and filed a claim. But something didn't seem quite right so the investigator got in touch with the finance company the man had used to buy the car. They told a different story. He had failed to make payments so they had repossessed it and towed it away. A fact the man failed to mention to the insurance company. Claim denied.

Oh Deer

It was apparently a long and winding road filled with all kinds of hazards and a few lies. The man told the insurance company he had hit a deer and claimed that his car was badly damaged. Then his story changed. Maybe it wasn't a deer, he said, it could have been a rabbit or even a groundhog. The investigator thought they must have some pretty big rabbits and groundhogs in these parts. Well, said the man, maybe it was a fence or a post. How a fence or a post jumped out onto the road was never made clear. Claim denied.

Up In Smoke

At first it had all the hallmarks of an all-too-familiar tragedy. A family had lost all their worldly possessions in a house fire. The husband, the wife and daughter all said they had no idea how it started. The first clue came from a neighbour. He had spotted smoke coming from the house and ran over to check that there was no one inside. He also remembered seeing the wife's car pull away shortly before the smoke appeared. Two weeks earlier, it turned out, she had stopped by her insurance agent's office to check that the policy was up to date and paid for. Charges pending. Claim denied.

The Camera Never Lies

The traffic was stop and go on one of Canada's busiest highways. The man said he was stopped when he was rear ended by the car behind him, and he filed a claim for the damage. Unfortunately for him the car behind had a camera mounted on the dashboard. The recording clearly shows the claimant actually reversing his car and hitting the car behind him. He then gets out to examine the damage he's caused. There was significant news coverage of the event. Claim denied. Charges laid.

For fraud prevention tips, visit our website at ibc.ca, our blog at getintheknow.ibc.ca or follow us on Twitter @insurancebureau. We tweet the best of our fraud prevention tips each Friday with the hash tag #fraudfightingfriday.

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 114,000 Canadians, pays more than $7 billion in taxes to the federal, provincial and municipal governments, and has a total premium base of $40 billion.

Tee off at GOLFZON PARK starting this month!

Advanced 3D Golf Simulator Technology now available in Canada

TORONTO, March 14, 2012 /Canada NewsWire Telbec/ - GOLFZON Canada Inc., an international leader in the distribution of golf simulator systems, is pleased to announce the launch of its 3D, virtual golfing experience in Canada. From mid-March until May, the Company will open its first five locations in the Greater Toronto Area under the GOLFZON PARK banner. By integrating its online and offline products and services, GOLFZON PARK will create a rich new golf culture, making the experience of simulated golf more real, enjoyable and accessible to everyone, regardless of their skills.

"We are proud to bring our brand of golf simulator technology to Canada," says Jay Park, Director of GOLFZON Canada Inc. "Not only do we offer an alternative to indoor sports, but we also offer an alternative to avid golfers. Our systems allow everyone to play golf, in any climate and without the hassle of scheduling tee times. Our high-end 3D graphics also make the experience feel real as it lets you play some of the most famous golf courses in the world right in your own city. The GOLFZON technologies are easy, fun and enjoyable - a real crowd pleaser!"

Golf simulator technology has opened doors for a unique golfing experience and opportunity, and GOLFZON PARK goes beyond the typical virtual reality. Real golf clubs and balls are used in a closed environment in order to simulate an authentic 3D golfing experience and help everyone improve their swing and overall game. With its screens, swing plates sensor mats and specialized cameras, all players will feel like they are on a real golf course. Furthermore, a number of games are available to help either improve golf skills or to simply have fun from stroke play, match play, skins to longest-drive, nearest-to-pin, putting and driving range.

The golf experience does not end when customers leave GOLFZON PARK locations. The experience continues on the GOLFZON website with the 'My GOLFZON' feature where players can check their score cards and swing motions.

Founded twelve years ago in Korea, GOLFZON continues to build on its successful history, making Canada's opening its first expansion in the Western hemisphere.

GOLFZON PARK locations and openings:

Markham
(7501 Woodbine Ave.) March 19 I 10 AM - 11 PM

Richmond Hill
(9737 Yonge St.) March 26 I 10 AM - 11 PM

Milton
(1095 Maple Ave.) April

Meadowvale, Mississauga
(6677 Meadowvale Town Centre Circle) April

Toronto
(214 King Street West) May



2012 Canadian GOLFZON Tournament:

GOLFZON will also hold special Live tournaments every two months, which will include a competition from contestants that have signed up under each GOLFZON PARK location. The contestants from each location will then compete for three weeks in the qualifying rounds. The top scorers from this round will then be selected to compete in the final round, also known as the "Branch Representative Players" round, and will be placed in the store's ranking system.

The first tournament will begin on March 26 with the qualifying rounds and will end on April 22 with the final round. Each final round will take place at the most recently opened GOLFZON PARK location. Winner and runner up will be awarded with $2,000 and $1,000 respectively, while the third place finisher will receive an iron set of clubs. A golf gift set will be awarded to all final participants.

For more information about GOLFZON, please visit www.golfzon.ca

About GOLFZON:

GOLFZON was established in May 2000. Two years of research and development later, the company produced its first golf simulator models, GOLFZON P and P+. Manufactured with cutting-edge South Korean technology, GOLFZON virtual golf systems commanded tremendous industry attention by capturing majority share of the Korean market in its first year. As of 2010, GOLFZON is the biggest player in the international golf simulator market, earning worldwide recognition and having exported golf simulators to over 30 countries. Also, by inventing GOLFZON LIVE, a service involving on-offline golf competitions and events, GOLFZON continues to offer innovative customer satisfaction. The current model being used in Canada is GOLFZON N, while its newest model being used in Korea at the moment, GOLFZON VISION, will be introduced next year. It will provide more realistic graphics through CryENGINE2 and Vision camera sensors.

Memories Lost To Climate Change: End Of Outdoor Ice Skating & Ice Fishing May Be Near

Tomato Geezer/CC BY 2.0
"In winter, a section of the Rideau Canal passing through central Ottawa becomes officially the world's largest skating rink."

from TreeHugger.com
by John Laumer Living / Culture
In Canada, Ottawa's famous Rideau Canal had a shortened skating season this year because of warm weather. Canadian researchers project that because of climate change, the "number of viable ice-flooding days could reach zero by mid-century."

Where I live in Eastern Pennsylvania there are virtually no winter sports this year due to unseasonable warmth and those who do want to ski or snow board, for example, are driving north as far as Vermont.

I have many wonderful childhood memories of flooding our backyard to make a rink. My Dad would let us run the hose out a basement window. All the kids in the neighborhood would pitch in with snow clearing and sweeping and on weekend evenings we'd have a group skate and maybe a game. By mid-March it was lumpy or gone, which was OK because, by then, we were sick of skating and winter in general.



M. Gifford/CC BY 2.0
"Backyard Hockey"

Kids who grew up in the South probably have no such memories so why would they care? But, in the Upper Mid-West through New England and all across Canada, outdoor skating will be sorely missed.

When I bring up our warm winter here in PA as a topic of conversation - not even mentioning climate change, mind you - there is a discomfort in their body language. It is simply too unpleasant to continue with the personal cognitive dissonance if the language centers of the brain have to kick in. So they look at the ground and change the subject.

Ice fishing too?
The following excerpts are from the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, reporting on an unfortunate ending to a February 2012 ice fishing contest on Lake Winnebago Wisconsin.

No contest: Lake Winnebago swallows sturgeon fishermen's vehicles

By Gitte Laasby of the Journal Sentinel
Feb. 26, 2012


Fishermen participating in the annual Lake Winnebago ice fishing contest over the weekend found themselves instead scouting for their modes of transportation after 36 parked vehicles went through the ice, authorities said Sunday...

Tournament organizers for the Battle on Bago reportedly warned people about parking on the ice Saturday, but some had trouble finding spots elsewhere and parked on the lake anyway. Of about 50 cars parked on the ice, four were submerged more than half way, 18 were partially submerged, and 14 sunk to the top of their wheels, according to the sheriff's department.

"They all started early in the morning. Throughout the day with the sun and everything else, vehicles started to sink," the dispatcher explained.

The ice was about a foot thick.

I lived on the shores of Winnebago for many years. To have the ice rot that badly during the last week of February is not unheard of. But, on average, this is way ahead of time. The sturgeon fishermen are disappointed and probably thinking about what it means.


Actually, the ice was bad much earlier that that: at beginning of February 2012. And that's weird. It goes against all cultural memory. As reported by the local Fox News station on 03 Feb 2012,
With just a week to go before sturgeon spearing starts, normally there are hundreds of ice shacks out on Lake Winnebago, but local fishing clubs say the thin ice is a bad sign that may keep many people off the lake altogether.

The story is similar at other places around the lake.

Ryan Kamba of Chilton made several signs for the Quinney Fishing Club, warning people venturing out on the lake of the dangers of the thin ice. It's a warning many may have never seen before on Lake Winnebago this time of year.

It's official... Schwartz's Deli sold to Montreal business families

Purchase of famous restaurant, close to their hearts!

MONTREAL, March 5, 2012 /Canada NewsWire Telbec/ - "Honored"... "Proud".... "Thrilled"… These were the adjectives used by Montreal families, the Nakis family and the Angelil-Dion family, who confirmed today that they have purchased the historic landmark deli known as Schwartz's, one of the most popular eateries in the city, enjoyed by several generations of Montrealers for the past 80 years.

Originally founded in 1928 by Rueben Schwartz, a Jewish immigrant from Romania, Schwartz's has not only become a mainstay in Montreal's downtown core, but it has earned a reputation around the world for its famous smoked meat. Since the very beginning, Schwartz's old-fashioned way of preparing smoked meat, using its very own secret blend of fine herbs and spices, and smoking the meat daily without the use of preservatives, has produced a freshness and award-winning taste that has delighted millions and millions of happy customers from every corner of the globe.

"I am honored to be able to contribute to one of this city's greatest legacies", said Anastasia K. Nakis, grand-daughter of well-known restaurateur Paul Nakis. For a restaurant to continue as long as Schwartz's has is a true testament to the quality of its product, the loyalty of its customers, and the word-of-mouth that has opened the doors to constant growth."

"My dear friend and manager of our singing group at the time, Ben Kaye, first brought me to Schwartz's in 1961, and I've been going there ever since", said partner Rene Angelil. I have so many great memories of being there with the guys, and with Celine and our families throughout the years. It's the most unique restaurant in the world and we're thrilled to be a part of it. It means a lot to us and we're very happy to be involved in this venture with the Nakis family, and especially with my nephews Martin and Eric".

Said Martin Sara,

"My brother Eric and I are extremely proud to be part of this wonderful heritage. We've been big fans of Schwartz's for a long time." "It's a tremendous honor for us to be involved in this grand tradition that customers have grown to love over the years," added Eric Sara.

Angelil added,

"I can speak on behalf of my partners, when I say that it's very important for us to maintain the consistency and high standards of Schwartz's reputation. Mr. Hy Diamond has poured his heart and soul into building this business, and not only do we want to thank him for his dedication, but we want him to be proud of our efforts to continue along the same path. Of course, we'll make a few improvements as necessary, but we're not interested in diluting the brand by franchising, or making the deli something that it isn't. It's truly one-of-a-kind, and we intend to keep it this way."