The Discipline Committee of Quebec’s Chambre de l'assurance has imposed a six-year temporary striking-off order on former personal-lines damage insurance agent Nargues Atai (certificate No. 257053).

The respondent, who represented herself without legal counsel, practised in the Saint-Laurent borough of Montreal. According to the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) register consulted by Insurance Portal, she has not been practising since March 5, 2024. Her certificate has not been valid since February 1, 2025. She is 33 years old.

The respondent pleaded guilty to the sole count in the complaint. Under the group insurance plan provided by her employer, she submitted dozens of fraudulent receipts to the insurer for laboratory tests and prescription drugs for herself or her spouse. She also submitted a fraudulent invoice for laser surgery for her spouse. However, the services associated with those receipts were never provided.

This conduct contravenes paragraph 9 of section 37 of the Code of Ethics of Damage Insurance Representatives. The committee ordered a conditional stay of proceedings with respect to the other provision alleged in support of the count.

The respondent was also ordered to pay costs, including the cost of publishing the notice of temporary striking off in a newspaper circulating in the area where she practised.

The committee granted her six months to pay the amounts owing in equal consecutive monthly instalments, beginning on the 31st day following publication of the decision.

The decision was rendered on June 3, 2026. The Chambre de l'assurance made the decision public in French on June 12 and noted that the six-year temporary striking-off period will take effect on the 31st day following service of the decision.

Some 48 fraudulent claims

At the hearing held on April 7, a joint statement of facts submitted by the complainant with the respondent's consent provided additional details about the circumstances surrounding the misconduct.

The respondent's actions took place between April 2023 and February 2024. Her agent's certificate was valid for a 10-month period during that time.

The fraudulently obtained payments from the group insurer totalled $53,557.24 through 48 fraudulent receipts. During the period when the respondent held a valid certificate, the amounts obtained through the 33 fraudulent documents totalled $38,995.

As soon as her employer uncovered the scheme, the agent was dismissed. She entered into a repayment agreement under which she pays $100 per month. She remains unemployed.

At the time of the events, the respondent was new to the industry. She had been on leave from work from October 16, 2023, until her employment was terminated on March 4, 2024.