Home Imagine you’re at home on the couch when a text message arrives from an unknown number. How have you been? Are you okay? Just an innocent wrong number, right? Well, maybe, but it could be the first step in a new scam gaining popularity with cyber criminals: the Pig Butchering Scam. We’re here to alert you about such fraudulent tactics and arm you with knowledge so you don’t fall victim to one of these scams. So, Just What Is a Pig Butchering Scam? Derived from the disturbing analogy of ‘fattening up’ a pig before it’s time for slaughter, this scam similarly involves tricksters who ‘fatten ..read more

Home At The Magnes Group, we recognize the severity of the auto theft crisis impacting Canadians, especially within Ontario, where the repercussions are most profound. In 2022, the nation witnessed over 105,000 vehicle thefts, marking an alarming rate of one vehicle stolen every five minutes. This escalating issue demands a comprehensive response from all sectors of society to prevent further deterioration. Remarkably, 2022 was a record-breaking year as Canada’s private auto insurers disbursed $1.2 billion in theft claims, a figure that tripled from 2018. This upward trajectory persisted into ..read more

Home It’s that time of year again: cold snap season. Plumbing systems can freeze when temperatures take a sudden nosedive past the freezing mark. And when water freezes and expands within a pipe, the pipe can burst. Here are some tips to protect your home’s plumbing during extreme cold: Turn One Faucet to a Slow Drip When outdoor temperatures drop below -12 °C, you might want to keep one of your indoor water faucets on a slow, continuous drip. Use cold water. Choose the faucet furthest from your incoming water line. The stream should be about the thickness of a thin pencil. The constant water ..read more

Home Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots offer round-the-clock assistance. They can answer questions, reduce wait times, process transactions, and guide you through complex websites or enrollment processes. With the release of conversational large language models like ChatGPT and Bard, chatbots have become more humanlike in their inferences and responses. Unfortunately, advancing AI has also increased scams like phishing and deepfakes. AI can be trained for good or bad things — and you can count on criminals to teach theirs to scheme. This blog explores ways to implement AI chatbot security ..read more

Home COVID-19 lockdowns are largely a thing of the past, but the age of remote work has just begun. According to a study by Upwork, 22% of jobs will be remote by 2025. If you’re one of the many professionals working from home, you know about the rewards: no commute, flexible hours, afternoon naps and (for some) working in bathrobes! But have you thought about the risks? If your home Wi-Fi network gets hacked, you could inadvertently expose your company’s sensitive data to theft. And if you routinely work from your couch or bed, you can experience muscle strains and injuries. It’s easy to let s ..read more

Home For the second consecutive year, the Honda CR-V topped the list of Canada’s most stolen vehicles, according to Équité Association. The organization unveiled its Top 10 Most Stolen Vehicles in Canada, theft frequency data and regional breakdowns. In 2022, auto theft led to a record-high $1.2 billion in industry losses, with a warning from Bryan Gast, Équité’s Vice President of Investigative Services, about the need for vigilance. Most Stolen Vehicles The Honda CR-V had 5,620 thefts in 2022, with a theft frequency rate of 1.2% (per 469,144 insured CR-Vs nationally), primarily targeting the ..read more

Home A recent article in Canadian Underwriter shone a light on the rising rates of auto thefts in Canada, and the numbers aren’t good. Auto theft expenses are anticipated to reach new heights in 2023, surpassing last year’s records. At the Magnes Group, we recognize the importance of providing accurate information to our clients in Ontario and Quebec. A fresh report from Équité Association has brought to light an alarming 31% increase in auto thefts in Ontario and a 17% rise in Quebec during the first half of 2023 compared to the previous year. Auto Theft Rates Climb in 2023 To put t ..read more

Home Most people don’t have much spare time, especially to renew their auto, home, condo or renters insurance. That’s what makes automatic policy renewals so convenient. Setting up automatic renewals of your auto, home or renters insurance policies allows your insurance company to deduct the policy premium from your bank account or charge the card you have on file. Most insurance companies offer this option for policies in good standing. When setting up automatic renewals, you can elect to have the premium paid in full or choose a monthly or semimonthly payment plan. Some insurers may allow yo ..read more

Home Owning an electric vehicle (EV) offers numerous benefits, such as reduced emissions and lower fuel costs. However, it is important for potential EV owners to be aware of the associated risks and considerations. One significant aspect to consider is the impact on auto insurance. While EVs generally require less maintenance and have fewer mechanical components than traditional gasoline-powered cars. However, their advanced technology and expensive battery systems can lead to higher repair costs in case of accidents or damages. While the government doesn’t collect data on the number o ..read more

Home Many pilots tend to focus on liability insurance because it carries the most potential for catastrophic monetary claims. However, hull insurance accounts for nearly two-thirds of your premium, so it deserves careful review by your insurance professional. Aviation Coverage Basics Whether you are a private plane owner or renter, there are three basic types of private aviation insurance: liability, medical and hull. Liability insurance covers bodily injury or property damage to others caused by your alleged negligence as a pilot. Medical insurance is usually a very small portion ..read more