IRDA Fraud Calls: Tricks Used, IGMS Complaint Filing
Insurance fraud cases are on rise and fraudsters are using new tricks to dupe customers by selling insurance with fraudulent claims and luring money from them.
So let’s check out what these techniques are:
(1) Callers posing as Insurance Officers: With this technique, fraudsters pose themselves as officers from integrated grievance management system (IGMS – https://www.igms.irda.gov.in/) which is a online platform where policyholders can lodge their complaints and also keep track of the application status. Fraudsters then state reason that they have called in response to the online complaint made by the policy-holder. And in order to resolve the grievance these scamsters ask for money in return. (3) In case of existing policy-holders, fraudsters inform that their money is fraudulently transferred and in order to get that money back, policy holder will need to complete formalities and pay money for the same.
(2) Bonus Distribution: This is the most common way to dupe insurance policyholders where fraudsters claim that IRDA is awarding bonus. However to be entitled to receive this bonus money, purchasing of a new policy is mandatory and after few months bonus would be given to the policy-holder.
(3) Free Gifts: Many a times, individuals receive fake calls to buy insurance policy and get free gifts, promotional offers, zero interest loans etc.
(4) The public is deceived about the authenticity of these individuals as they use names such as Insurance Transaction Department, Reserve Bank of India, or any other existing government agency.
IGMS Benefits & Complaint Registration Process
Integrated Grievance Management System (IGMS) is an online system that lets policy holders (life, health, motor, travel, etc.) to lodge complaints against insurance companies and track the status of the their complaint.
Here’s how to lodge the complaint on IGMS platform:
(i) Visit https://igms.irda.gov.in/
(ii) If you are a new user, register as a policy complainant by clicking on the blue highlighted link “click here” to register 
(iii) After clicking, you will be redirected to the following page as shown in the image below: 
(iv) After successful registration, you can login and register your complaint.
Important Note: You have to first lodge complaint with the insurance company on their respective website or over phone/Email/personal visit. Every insurer has grievance redressal system for their customers queries and they will issue service request number for tracking your query. But if there is no response from the insurer within 15 days of lodging the complaint, you can escalate complaint against the insurance company on IGMS platform using the steps mentioned above.
How to stay alert
- IRDA never sells or makes recommendation for insurance products of any company. So any call received by a person claiming to be an IRDA agent or officer is certainly a FAKE call.
- Never ever hold a blind trust on insurance company’s representatives/agents. Always cross check their credentials most importantly the unique code which is allotted by IRDA to every authorized agent or broker. You should also ask for company ID and check their linkedin or facebook profile. You can also ask them to provide client’s personal details and contact them directly to get more details. Read more on what questions to ask your life insurance agent
- You should also reach respective insurance company’s call centre/branch in order to verify claims made by the agent. And in case of any contradictory claims, a case of providing misleading or fraudulent information can be lodged.
- Always remember that IRDA is not a mediator between you and insurance company and they never recommend switching between the policies nor any announcement is made by them for offering bonus or guaranteed returns.
- Get a copy of the agent’s personal identification card, agent number, address and contact number and all the policy documents, proposal form etc. you’ve signed.
- Never ever miss to issue a crossed cheque on the insurance company’s name. On the cheque, affix a transparent tape on the payee’s name and amount. And on the back side of the cheque, mention the purpose for which the cheque was issued.
- Strictly no verbal assurance. Every claim made should be present on company’s official document.
Duped, Now What? File a complaint
With rising fraud calls , IRDA has made easier for individuals to file complaint. Following are the ways to contact IRDA:
- E-mail and Phone: Call Toll Free on IRDA grievance contact number: 155255 or 1800-4254-732. Alternatively E-mail complaints@irda.gov.in. However before contacting IRDA, first try to contact Insurance company’s grievance department. And if you do not receive any response within 15 days of filing the complaint then you should reach out to IRDA.
- Online Complaint: File compliant online at http://www.igms.irda.gov.in/
- Courier/Post: File complaint by sending a completely filled complaint registration form on the following address: Consumer Affairs Department Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority 3-5-817/818, United India Towers, 9th Floor Hyderguda, Basheerbagh Hyderabad – 500 029
- Fax: You can fax your complaint form to 040-66789768 (Hyderabad). Here’s the link to download complaint’s form
- Police complaint: Other way is file a police complaint at your local police station by submitting details such as caller’s name and telephone number.
- These days most of the insurance companies have social media presence on sites such as facebook.com, google.com, twitter.com etc. So directly put comment on their page. This will make your message go viral and help more and more people informed about the frauds.
Hi, I am Nikesh Mehta, owner and writer of this site. I’m an analytics professional and also love writing on finance and related industry. I’ve done online course in Financial Markets and Investment Strategy from Indian School of Business. I can be reached at nikeshmehta@allonmoney.com.
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Home C Das
One of my friend used to tell that so far people are not aware or are foolish, no one can stop the fraud people till IRDA does not take any responsibility.
AllOnMoney.Com
We should also be careful when putting money in any scheme or disclosing financial details to unknown.
G Krishnamoorthy
Dear all,
I have a life insurance policy with mac life insurance for 13 years now.
I got a call a week back claiming that all my dividend bonus are getting diverted by the agent to his account. I need to take action or lose the complete amount. I could not believe and ignored the same thinking it as fake. After a week I got a call again and they asked why I have not taken steps to cancel the agent code, and if I dont act in another 10 days, all the dividend bonus of around 1,69,000 will be taken away by the agent. They informed me that I would be required to pay 17000 for cancellation of agent code and 17000 for NOC, both these amounts were refundable. On both the calls they claimed themselves to be working for Max life insurance where I have taken my policy and were talking in Hindi. Surprisingly, they were able to give exact policy number, name, address and the mobile number. Numbers from where I received the calls were – +911409804397 and 911409804399.
I dialled up the customer care number of Max life insurance and they comforted me that my money is not going anywhere, and there is no concept of agent getting dividend bonus. Any special time bonus to policy holders will be sent through ECS facility if policy holders have registered or will be sent as cheque to policy holder address as per the records. So I concluded this to be fake.
Request the readers to be very careful. I have marked these phone numbers as Fake call numbers in Truecaller.
Thanks
GHISALAL JAIN
FOR GETTING CANCELATION OF YOUR POLICY U GO DIRECTLY TO YOUR INSURANCE OFFICE AND FILL THE SURENDER FORM AND GIVE YOUR BANK DETAILS ID PROOF AND TAKE THE RECEIPT FOR THE SAME FROM THAT OFFICE IN FIFTEEN DAY THEY WILL PROCESS THE SAME AND AMOUNT WILL BE TRANSFERD TO YOUR ACCOUNT.
A SUBRAMANIYAM
Respected Sir,
I’m one of the Victim of Fraud Cheating Group about Extra Benefit on my policy. He is claiming that he is from IRDA. I’m holding TATA AIG Policy since 2010. On last December I got a call from a person name Mr. Mayank Sharma, Mobile No.08505916087 he is claiming that he is from IRDA Hyderabad. He told me about my TATA AIG Policy. And he asked me about how about your TATA AIG Agent services since I’m not happy with the Agent I shared him my Greivences about agent to him. Reply of this he told me that there is provision in IRDA Guideline that if any Agent is not serviced the customer properly then his Benefits is directly given to the customer . Initialy I’m not believe on his words but he continuesly calling me and convince me all possibilities way he told me about my Policy details etc. And meanwhile he is not asking anything to me so I believed him and accept his words. He told me that the agent benefits (Commison & Bonus ) on my policy is some
around of 2 Lakhs is pending since last 4 years which he will paid to me if I accepted. Since he is not asking anything I accepted this when I accept this he again called me since this payment is may not give you directly IRDA will reimburse this to from some authorized Bank only and that also I may choose, he suggest me 1.HDFC Life Insurance 2. Aegon Religare 3. Bharthi Hexa. And I choose HDFC .Since he insisted me because of my Account with HDFC, so the payment releasing will be very easy process. At this juncture he told me that he is sending my all my Benefits details to HDFC Life Insurance company. And HDFC Person will call me about to further process.
And as per his words one Person Mr.Rajeev Saxena ,Mobile No.08510927809 called me and claiming that he is from HDFC Life Insurance company from Delhi corporate office. And he is authorized person to disburse my claim settlement on behalf of HDFC. Once again he verified my all details like my policy No.sum Assured, period etc. again he told me that since this claim is not related with their bank so I have to take a policy of minimum of Rs.1lakh ( One Lakh)and at that time only he may process my settlement on my current Policy customer ID. He told me that this is only Dummy policy and this policy purpose is only for selltled my Benefits and this 1 lac also I get along with my settlement. He assured me Total amount of some 3 Lakhs 99 Thousand will be credit my account on 31 st March 2015. One day I again called me and told me that is Mr.Mayank Sharma told me about any Penalty Benefits on my policy. I he is not told me then he told me that how Mr.Sharma
will do like this since this is my rights to get some 5 Laksh penalty and as per him I m eligible to get around 5 Laks of penalty and total of around 8 Lakhs benefit. At this juncture both of them played a Drama in conference call showing that Mr.Mayank Sharma doing Unfavour & Mr.Rajeev Saxena doing very favour to me and finaly Mr.Mayank Sharma again accepted his mistakes and agree to release the 5 Lakhs penalty also to my account as per IRDA Policies. At this juncture again I doubt and asked both of them that without any Benefits from me why unnessary IRDA give me so much of money. Both of them again told that this is create awareness of Insurance to Public if some body like me told this to in my Friends & Relative circle so that people will take more interested in Insurance. And finaly again I accepted for this also. (During all this I continuesly asking their Identity or any authorize mail or Documents from IRDA OR HDFC. But every time they both told
me lot of reason & assurance. ) And again they asked me to Invest 2 Lakhs on my previous policy at that time only they will able to process the penalty. Since they asking every thing on HDFC Name only so I trusted on them and I don’t find any wrong . again I give 19900/-Cheque payment in the name of HDFC Insurance .For that they continuesly follw up over phone and they asked me to send my Account No. IFS Code ,cancel cheque leaf etc. because last cheque which I send for 1 laks I got a policy Document from HDFC. So this time also I send the same .This time they asked me to send all this to Patiyala,Punjab. I asked why as per them all claims will be settle there only. After I received my Insurance document I have to told the Customer ID on policy. But my cheque was bounced after that they continuosly ask for the payment I denied for that but they told me if this payment was not give by me I have to lost my all money. Again I made the payment and as
per them after receiving this payment every thing will in smoothly process & I will get payment on 31st March15. But it was not happened when I called them this is because of my cheque bounce it got delay 1 month and I may get it on 30 th April-15 in my account. But till date there is no payment I receive .Earlier they responded all my phone calls and talking to me in a very polite manner that’s why I continusly believe on them and ofcourse my Greedy .But Finaly I fooled by them now no body was pick my call.
This is correct all this was happened with me because of my over Greedy and foolishness but I wrote all this because at least in future any other person should not suffer or victim of this Fraud Group.At this juncture I’m unable to continue my Policy with HDFC , I want to cancel my policy, Kindly Let me know also what is the procedure cancel my policy & get back of my money Rs.3 Lakhs back. This is impossible for me to continue my policy in next year also.And one more thing all this are working as a one Strong Network because during this course some other 2-3 peoples are also involved in this as they claim Verifier from HDFC Namely Mr.Manish Chouhan Ph.No. 9540687062 he claim that he is the person who is Finalization of my claim and now these days he is Interacting with me and now he asking for Rs.140000/- One Lac Fourty Thousand as Service charge on my Final payment which I have to pay at that time only I receive my claim payment.
So pl. don’t irritate about my long complaint this is because right now I’m in very difficult position since I’m not a very wealthy person and because of my Greedy & Foolishness I lost my all savings & take credit from others also. Pl. take strong action on them.
Pl. also anybody help/Guide/Advise/ me out How to get my Money back from this Insurance Company ??? pl..
Ashish
I got Exactly the same kind of call today ..From a Priti Sharma (Posing as a member of Insurance Service company related to IRDA)and Sanjeev Sharma(Posed as Relationship manager from Exide Insurance) Gang but directly from Delhi not from Hyderabad .Probably, they are in identity theft business as they knew my date of birth and the exact amount of vested bonus on my policies. They were saying that the Vested Bonus is something that will go to the Branch manager and Agent and you will not get anything and it is in cancelled mode and today itself if you get the policy ,it would generate one customer code directly in IRDA and using that customer code I can get the code of my agent removed from my policies.
Once the code is generated and removed all VESTED BONUS money will be mine . After the call from Priti I got suspicious but asked to go ahead with policy being greedy for the bonus money .She told me that one relationship manager will call today and I will have to submit the documents and check today itself.To Sanjeev Sharma guy I told that I would like to submit the documents only in the Exide office .He tried to convince me to give docs and all to person who will visit my door ,I did not agree to that as I wanted to be convinced from my end this person is exactly from exide and wanted to get that confirmation from the office of exide . He insisted that I would loose many benefits if I do this tomorrow . I did not agree and he put the phone down.In the evening I was looking for such frauds on net and this one exactly matched the modus operandi . Thank God I did not went forward. I also read about VESTED BONUS which the company will disburse me after the claim is made or maturity and not something that company issues time to time as fund transfer or check.
. At this moment I am really worried that they seem to posses sizable information about me and my policy.That simply amounts to identity theft that they can misuse .. I need to make official complaint to various agencies.
Shiv
I am getting Calls from 8800239513 Identifying himself as Ashok Kumar from IRDA. He said that the recent payment from Insurance company was not complete and you should be getting more money. He collected Policy details and said that your case has been filed. Next day he called and asked to pay 33,000/- as tax so the money can be released. I told him to pay me first than I will pay tax. Posting this for cautioning others.
Satya Murthy
I am getting calls from 8750549390. For clearing my dividend accumulated against my insurance policy. It seems fraud as if dividend is accumulated then the policy account should show it, why will someone call on this. Also, in the process they are trying to get more information – like date of birth, AADHAR card no, etc . These are personal information and must not be shared with unknown persons.
Prathiva
I am getting calls from 9582754681. They talk in Hindi only and claims to be from Grievance Dept of IRDA ! They offer to clear your dividend from insurance company!!! Be careful as they seems fraud as similar to some of the situations mentioned in this website.
Manoj
I have received similar calls from number 1409580674 asking me to buy a Bharti Axa policy paying 30,000 Rupees which can be cancelled in 15 days to claim 1.5 Lakhs due to me which is lying with a so called Dividend department which is supposed to be an apex body for all insurance companies collectively. They claim that the dividend is due to me but being diverted by the agent. Fortunately consumers Kindly beware of such calls.
Parveen Arya, Advocate
Dear Sir,
I am receiving the calls regularly from 8377966875 and 7531035564 on my mobile number. I had him warned a lot of times, but nothing happened .He calls at any time, ask for name and insists on talking. Doesn’t give his name and calls too and any time of the day or night.
Would request you to block this no and take necessary strong legal action against them to stop this nonsense activity.
With regards,
RAJEEV RANJAN
From Last week of December to January first, I am continuously receiving fake calls regarding my old lapsed policy settlement as IRDA/IGMS officers from the no. 9266610041 (Dipak Gandhi from Delhi, but when the number searched in different search id it shows the no. of Tamilnadu), second no. 9212110673 and third no. 9210903577 showing her Khusi Rajput) and now from 4th no. 7304537430 ( this no doesn’t show state or mobile service provider it may be wi-fi call to divert the attention). I am surprised about to listen about my exact lapsed policy i.e not maintained by me as I was not interested to financial problem. Hence, kindly note down these make numbers that they may call any body to make fool to share yours/mine identity or A/c no. details or any thing what ever possible! Beware of such fake calls. IRDA/IGMS don’t call any body regarding policy details.
PARAG MANIYAR
DEAR ALL FD’S HOLDERS
I WOULD LIKE TO INFORM YOU THAT NOW CONSUMER COMPLAINT SITE IS ALSO MAKING FRAUD WITH PEOPLE WHO IS RAISE THE COMPLAINT IN THEIR CONSUMER FORUM SITE
JUST RECENTLY FRAUD WITH ME BY A PERSON OF M/S AKOSHA CONSUMER FORUM
MR. ASHOK MITTAL – (M) 07840063506 – ASST. OF CA MR. ARVIND KUMAR
I HAVE RAISE THE COMPLAINT IN AKOSHA CONSUMER AGAINST UNITECH FD MY FD NO. IS 1221333 & 1214311 (TOTAL RS.80000.00) WITH ALL DETAILS OF FD ONE MONTH BACK AND I GOT THE EMAIL FROM AKOSHA TEAM THAT I HAVE TO PAY THEIR SERVICE CHARGES THEN ONLY THEY START THE PROCEDURE. SO I HAVE NOT GIVEN ANY WRITTEN CLEARANCE TO THEM FOR START ANY PROCEDURE FOR MY FD AGAINST UNITECH
SUDDENLY ON 14.12.14 MR. AKOSHA CALLED ME WITH MY ALL FD DETAILS AND INFORMED ME THEY HAVE GOT THE MONEY FROM UNITECH AGAINST MY COMPLAINT OF UNITECH FD AND NOW THEY TRANSFER THIS FD AMOUNT TO MY A/C.
SO FIRST I STRANGE AND ASK HIM HOW YOU GOT MY FD AMOUNT I HAVE NOT GIVEN ANY CLEARANCE TO YOU PEOPLE TO TAKE ANY ACTION FOR MY FD SO HE TOLD ME THAT ONCE YOU RAISE THE COMPLAINT THEN WE ARE WORKING ON THIS. NOW FOR GET MY FD AMOUNT I HAVE TO PAY SERVICE CHARGE 7802.00. AND IF I WILL NOT PAY THEN I WILL NOT GET MY FD AMOUNT.
HENCE I HAVE NOT TAKE IT SERIOUSLY AND TOLD HIM I CAN NOT TRUST ON YOU. SO HE FOLLOW UP WITH ME EVERY DAY AND FOR GETTING MY TRUST HE GAVE ME THEIR OFFICE ADDRESS AND THEIR CLIENT NAME WITH THEIR CELL NO. REFER BELOW
ADDRESS:
IGMS CONSUMER AFFIR DEPT
F22 SABHA PUR INDUSTRIAL AREA, DELHI – 110094.
CLIENT NAME – MR. GOPAL PARIK – 08744042825 AND MRS. POOJA – 08447062096
I HAVE TALKED WITH THESE TWO GUYS AND BOTH ARE GIVING POSITIVE REPLY THAT THEY GOT THE MONEY FROM THEM ONLY.
SO I TRUSTED THEM AND ONLINE TRANSFER THEIR SERVICE CHARGES TO THEIR CA MR. ARVIND KUMAR A/C NO. 05881530009246 – RS.7802.00 ON 18.12.14 & RS.6120 ON 20.12.14 – 12.00PM
AFTER TRANSFERRED I CALLED TO MR. ASHOK AND HE PROMISED ME THAT MY FD AMOUNT WILL CREDIT IN MY A/C WITHIN AN ONE HOUR
NOW TILL TODAY IT IS NOT CREDITED AND I AM CONTINUOUS CALLING HIM BUT HE NOT LIFTING THE PHONE.
SO NOW I REALISED THAT THESE PEOPLE DONE A FRAUD WITH ME AND I LOST MY RS.13922.00
HENCE I REQUEST TO ALL TO PASS ON THIS MESSAGE AS MANY AS PEOPLE SO THAT NON OF PEOPLE WILL FRAUD BY ANY CONSUMER FORUM PERSON.
NOW REQUEST YOU TO KINDLY HELP IN GETTING MY FD AMOUNT OF RS.80000.00 FROM UNITECH AND RS.13922.00 FROM MR. ASHOK MITTAL(M)07840063506 OF CONSUMER FORUM
PARAG MANIYAR
Mobile: – +91-8460825782