CTP claim fraud

CTP claim fraud affects all vehicle owners by adding significant costs to the South Australian CTP Scheme.

CTP claim fraud is when someone:

  • lies to the insurer
  • deliberately doesn't tell the insurer something relevant (for example, that they have past injuries)
  • provides false documents
  • exaggerates their injuries or losses.

For example, someone commits fraud if they're involved in a motor vehicle accident, lodges a CTP claim and:

  • deceptively says they have injuries which significantly affect their mobility, even though they regularly participate in contact sport and other active duties around the home or at work
  • exaggerates the income received before the accident, which is used to calculate their economic loss
  • falsely states that injuries they sustained before their motor vehicle accident were caused by the accident.

The Regulator and CTP insurers are committed to preventing fraud.

If an insurer suspects or detects dishonest conduct, this may be referred for criminal investigation.

Report suspected fraud

If you think someone is being deceptive about a South Australian CTP claim, report it to the Regulator:

Information submitted via this form may be forwarded to the appropriate CTP Insurer, the Lifetime Support Authority, SA Police or relevant interstate CTP authorities.

You can remain anonymous if you wish.

Fraud about any other type of insurance (non-CTP) should be reported to the Insurance Fraud Bureau of Australia (IFBA).

Car crash scamming

Car crash scammers (also known as ‘claim farmers’) contact people who they think have been involved in a motor vehicle accident and pretend to help them lodge a CTP claim.

They encourage you to provide your personal details so they can sell your information to other people.

How can I tell if something is a scam?

Car crash scammers can be very sophisticated and convincing. They may pretend to be from the government or an insurer.

Often, the scammer will pretend to help you lodge a claim and may promise you compensation or a 'payout'.

If you've been in a motor vehicle accident and you receive a cold call, you should:

  • ask for proof that the caller is who they say they are
  • if a phone number is displayed, search for the number online to check that it is genuine.

What should I do if a scammer calls me?

If you suspect you're talking to a scammer, do not provide any personal details. Hang up, and report the call to the CTP Regulator:

You can remain anonymous if you wish.

Scams can also be reported to Scamwatch. Scamwatch is run by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). The Scamwatch website also provides useful information about what to do if you think you've been scammed.