Staged collisions increased in Markham, says Aviva Canada spokesperson

Markham experienced a 525 per cent increase in staged collisions from 2024 to 2025, said Jamie Lee, vice president of fraud and financial crime at Aviva Canada.

This coincides with a 400 per cent increase in staged collisions nationwide from 2024 to 2025, according to Aviva Canada’s claims investigation data.

Staged collisions are a type of insurance fraud in which a person fakes a car crash to receive an insurance claim.

Lee said that such incidents often occur when a criminal entices others facing financial difficulties — perhaps via TikTok — to crash their car for a fee, in hopes of receiving a payout.

According to an Aviva Canada fraud survey conducted in January, 14 per cent of Canadians ranked staged collisions as their top insurance fraud threat, more than any other type.

The survey also found that 42 per cent of Canadians worry about becoming victims of fraud, compared with 19 per cent who said they are not concerned. Meanwhile, 59 per cent said they are worried about paying higher premiums due to insurance fraud, and 43 per cent believe punishments for fraudsters are too lenient.

Lee said that staged collision cases may be growing due to recent measures to combat auto theft. She said that Aviva Canada has seen a drop in auto thefts alongside the increase, suggesting that criminals may be pivoting to staged collisions due to the increased difficulty of stealing vehicles.

She added that such cases have become more sophisticated, in which criminals may stage car crashes on busy highways and call emergency responders to increase legitimacy.

“They [criminals] see insurance as an easy crime and an easy way to get money out of the system. And this is unfortunately driving a premium for our innocent customers and consumers.”

York Region Police’s data has shown a regional decrease in auto thefts since 2023. In a media release last year, auto thefts dropped by 37 per cent throughout the first half of 2025, compared to the same period in 2024. The police’s 2024 Annual Statistics Report also showed that York Region experienced 36 per cent fewer auto thefts in 2024 compared to 2023, when cases peaked after climbing steadily since 2020.

The police launched Operation Auto Guard in 2023 to combat the nearly 300 per cent increase in auto thefts from 2020 to 2023.

In August 2025, Deputy Chief Ryan Hogan said that Operation Auto Guard, along with other initiatives such as Projects Boa and Viper, had helped reduce the number of auto thefts from 2024 to 2025.

“I think we have tried hard as an industry of law enforcement to focus on really making this crime not profitable and reducing the demand,” he said.

Lee said that governments and police services could impose greater consequences for those committing fraud and auto-related crimes. She added that providing more tools and resources for prosecutors and insurers could help prevent staged collisions in the future.

“I think this stems back to organized crime,” she said about staged collisions and other auto-related crimes. “And I think there is a problem with organized crime right now, particularly in Ontario.”

Lee said that residents should think twice before letting someone stage a collision with their vehicle, because not only will the owner pay an upfront fee along with possible vehicle repairs, but insurance companies can figure out if the owner staged a car crash, resulting in zero payout, increased premiums, and possible criminal charges.

She added that those experiencing financial stress could instead seek out financial resources — as well as their insurance broker — to figure out a solution.

For more information about Aviva Canada, head to aviva.ca/en.

 

Photo: Aviva Canada’s claims investigation data showed a 400 per cent increase in staged collisions from 2024 to 2025.

*Story submitted by David Yin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter