Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) is taking decisive action to crack down on illegal motor vehicle dealers, known as “curbers”, to help maintain the trust and integrity of the dealer network in the province and protect Manitobans from losing money to criminal operators.
Curbers are individuals who sell more than four vehicles in a 12-month period without a dealer permit, and they have frequently been linked to wider fraud networks. While dealers are required to keep records of the vehicles they buy and sell, curbers are not monitored, which can result in customers buying vehicles with rolled-back odometers, a previous collision history that was not disclosed, cloned Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs), and a myriad of other concerns that are hidden from buyers, who then have no recourse to cover their losses.
MPI’s Vehicle Safety department introduced a dealer audit framework in 2024 to increase the frequency of audits and work more closely with MPI’s Special Investigation Unit (SIU) and law enforcement partners. In addition, MPI’s Vehicle Safety Officers have Peace Officer status under the Drivers and Vehicles Act and can issue Provincial Offence Notices.
In 2024, the Vehicle Safety team contacted curbers to educate them as to what was required if selling more than four vehicles in a year. After receiving the letters, two obtained permits, two stopped the illegal sales, and two were issued Provincial Offence Notices. One of those notices was issued to Mohamed Kasem, who later became the subject of investigation with the SIU and Winnipeg Police Service. That investigation led to a large-scale operation known as Buyer Bee Aware that resulted in Kasem being arrested on 68 charges related to fraud.
In February 2025, MPI’s Vehicle Safety team sent 30 letters, and 30 more curbers have been identified to receive letters in May 2025. Four Provincial Offence Notices have been issued to date, each carrying a fine of more than $2,500.
“The ability to issue Provincial Offence Notices to unpermitted dealers goes hand-in-hand with sanctions for dealers,” said Dana Frazer, Vice President & Chief Operations Officer at MPI. “Suspended dealers are monitored, and if found to be still operating as a dealer, a notice is issued. With this increased oversight over curbers and suspended dealers, we now have increased awareness of fraud networks. Our Vehicle Safety team is looking at all the connections and involving the SIU and law enforcement to protect Manitobans from vehicle fraud.”
Vehicle fraud affects everybody – it increases costs and puts unsafe vehicles on our roadways. MPI is committed to the safety of Manitobans and efforts will continue to prevent curbers and sanctioned dealers from operating.
MPI identifies sanctioned sellers on our website, and the public is encouraged to review this list before purchasing a vehicle. In addition, MPI has made it easy to report fraud. You can submit your tip online, by phone on our TIPS line: 204-985-8477, or through Crime Stoppers. Tip information is completely confidential and anonymous.
