Tools Every Special Investigations Unit Need to Fight Insurance Fraud

October 2, 2025

Insurance fraud is surging in Canada. Are your SIU tools keeping up?

In every insurance fraud investigation, evidence matters. So the question for every insurer’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) becomes: what’s in your fraud-fighting toolbox?

“Fraud investigators often lose valuable hours using manual methods and juggling multiple vendors to collect the data they need to build strong cases,” says Darrell Parsons, CEO of ISB Global Services. “In reality, SIUs don’t need more places to look, they need one place to get everything quickly, accurately and securely.”

And it’s more important than ever for SIUs who want to stay ahead of emerging fraud tactics in Canada, he adds.

Claims fraud investigations surged 76% in 2024, and auto theft losses hit a record $1.5 billion in 2023.

On the one end, organized crime rings are increasingly deploying technology to re-VIN stolen vehicles, stage collisions, and even use AI to forge documents. On the other, economic uncertainty is motivating ordinary people towards fraud — tweaking a story, misrepresenting a policy, or inflating a claim to save money. Ironically, Canadians now pay well over $1 billion per year in added insurance premiums due to fraud.

“Fighting today’s fraud tactics require more than instinct,” Parsons says. “The right tools can help SIUs catch a small inconsistency and turn it into a defensible finding or even stop a large-scale scheme in its tracks.”

The Power of Centralized Access to Fight Fraud

For SIUs tasked with fraud investigations, the challenge isn’t just early detection, says Pamela Beauchamp, Director, Insurance Division at ISB. “It’s knowing what data to gather, how to dig deeper and connect the dots faster – without jumping through hoops.”

ISB’s centralized platform is designed around what investigators actually use day-to-day. With one login, SIUs gain access to a suite of tools that cover identity and background verification, vehicle and accident investigations, and financial and property checks.

That includes:

• Police and claims reports
• Document authentication
• Background checks and identity verification
• Social media and open-source intelligence

Documents are sourced directly from trusted sources, such as provincial ministries, which means they’re always accurate, verified, and can’t be tampered with by AI tools. Compliance is also built into every order. Each document is traceable, time-stamped and audit-ready, so investigators know their findings will stand up to scrutiny and hold up in court.

But it’s not just the list of tools that’s proving valuable, Beauchamp says. It’s how they connect to transform suspicion into solid evidence.

Investigator’s Desk: Your SIU Doc Sourcing Playbook

Whether you’re verifying a story, trying to spot inconsistencies or uncover criminal intent, here’s a quick-reference guide for SIUs.

What to order for your use case

Knowing what documents to request can be daunting. ISB takes the guesswork out by mapping available tools to investigative needs.

Q: Investigating license validity?
A: Start with a Driver’s License Check. If that looks questionable, run the abstract — it’ll show convictions, suspensions, and whether the claim lines up with their history.

Q: Verifying vehicle ownership?
A: A plate number unlocks a lot. You can run ownership history, match it against policy data, and confirm if the vehicle was even registered to the claimant at the time.

Q; Wondering about motive?
A: “Financial distress isn’t always visible in the claim file, but a bankruptcy search or lien check can reveal pressure points that align with opportunistic fraud.

What you can order with what you have

Sometimes all an SIU investigator starts with is a single piece of information: a plate number, a license, or an address. Match that with the over 70+ essential insurance documents you can access through ISB’s platform and it’s a fast and easy way to supercharge your fraud investigations.

“Every good investigation starts with the right questions, and the right tools,” says Beauchamp. “Whether it’s a license, a VIN, or just a hunch, ISB helps you dig deeper. Even with just a plate number or VIN, you can uncover a deeper pattern — previous claims, liens, changes in ownership, or mismatched policyholders.”

For example:

If you have a driver’s license number… you can get a full license history.
If you have a plate number… you can uncover ownership details or vehicle history.
If you have an address… you can get land title or property assessment records.

Don’t Overlook These Fraud-Fighting Tools

Even experienced investigators can get overwhelmed by tedious processes and vast amounts of data. Some of ISB’s most powerful fraud-fighting tools are often underused.

Here’s how adding these ISB tools to your fraud-fighting toolbox can supercharge SIU investigations:

• Insurer VIN Scan: In partnership with CARFAX, this is more than a history check — it’s a way to uncover hidden risks like prior damage, undisclosed ownership changes, or re-VINning.
• Social Media Screening: Online activity can expose lifestyle inconsistencies or staged injuries.
• Identity Authentication: Fake IDs and tampered forms are becoming easier to create — and easier to miss.
• Conviction & Criminal History Reports: Past convictions for theft or fraud can reveal patterns in otherwise “small” claims.
• Lien & Bankruptcy Checks: Financial distress often aligns with opportunistic fraud.
• Property Investigations: Land titles and property assessments can expose inflated or fabricated damage claims.

Bundling Tools: Where Leading SIUs See Success

The most effective SIUs aren’t just using single reports, they’re bundling them into investigation packages that reveal bigger patterns.

Leading insurers’ SIUs are seeing results by ordering combinations of search tools through ISB’s platform, for example:

• ATIP Package: For investigating vehicle total loss due to theft or fire — confirming ownership, liens, and for-sale status.
• BTIP Package: For investigating bodily injury claims — locating a driver’s license by name and identifying sources of insurance.
• Commercial Package: For investigating commercial claims — locating claim history, insurance provider, business ownership and financial background.
• Driver Record Abstract & Vehicle Owner Package: For investigating AB claims — connecting the dots between ownership and insurance details.

“These packages are where SIUs can really gain efficiency, combining data points to build a case that’s defensible, accurate and complete,” says Beauchamp.

A Smarter Way to Investigate Fraud

Insurance fraud isn’t slowing down. But with the right tools, SIUs can move from red flags to resolution without burning out on manual processes or scattered requests, says Parsons.

“Centralizing access to the right documents means investigators spend less time chasing paperwork and more time building cases that hold up in court. At ISB, we’re not here to replace your judgment. We’re here to help prove it,” he adds. “And when fraudsters lose, everyone wins.”

Strengthening SIU Investigations with ISB Global Services

With ISB Global Services’ investigative tools, SIUs gain a complete view of every claim. From VIN Scan to bundled search packages, ISB delivers fast, secure insights in one platform — helping insurers detect fraud sooner and stay ahead.