$600,000 scam targets healthcare benefits provider that operates in Brampton

A scam that defrauded an online healthcare benefits provider out of more than $600,000 over nearly two years has led to the arrest of one man and perhaps more people as Peel Regional Police continue their investigation.

Fraud investigators say the healthcare benefits scam began in February 2020 and continued for 22 months.

During that time, police say, the healthcare benefits provider, which runs some of its operations out of a Brampton address, paid out numerous benefit claims to multiple employees of a large online retailer.

“Some of these employees were working with (a man) to submit fraudulent claims. Once dispersed by the healthcare benefits provider, the illegally obtained funds would be shared between the individual plan member and the (man),” police said in a news release.

Investigators made an arrest last Wednesday.

Anand Pareshkumar Amin, 30, of Vaughan, is charged with fraud over $5,000.

He was released with conditions and will appear again in Brampton court on Sept. 25.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to call police at 905-453-2121, ext. 3335, or Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Police offer several tips that can help prevent benefits fraud:

• protect your personal information, which includes your benefits plan username, password and other access information
• never share your information for others to obtain products or services
• check your receipts to ensure the accuracy of services or treatment received
• never sign your name on blank forms
• depending on your provider’s policy, keep a copy of the original receipt to support your claim
• report any suspected abuse or fraud to your insurance company