How to Spot a Fake Insurance Call Before Its Too Late

“Hello ma’am, I’m calling from your insurance company regarding a pending bonus.
Just need your Aadhaar number to release the amount…”

At first, the voice sounds professional. Maybe even helpful.
But within days—or even hours—you realize something’s off. Money is missing, your policy isn’t updated, and now you’re stuck dealing with insurance related issues and scrambling to find a footing against insurance fraud.

Fake insurance calls are no longer rare. They're crafted to deceive even the most cautious policyholders. From retired professionals to young policyholders—anyone can fall prey.

If you’ve ever received such a call—or fear you might—here’s exactly how to identify the danger signs before you lose your money or your policy protection.

         1. “Can you confirm your Aadhaar/OTP/CVV?” – They Want Your Data, Not to Help You

Red Flag #1: They ask for confidential personal or financial information.

No genuine insurance company will ever call you out of the blue asking for OTPs, Aadhaar, PAN, debit card info, or login credentials. These are clear tactics used in identity theft and policy fraud.

What to do: Hang up immediately and call your insurer’s official customer care number—not the number they called you from. If you've already shared details, contact a legal expert right away. They can help you assess potential damage and prevent future misuse.

         2. “We’re releasing your bonus/refund — just pay ₹499 now.” – They’re Buying Time with Your Money

Red Flag #2: You’re told to make a payment to unlock some ‘benefit’.

Scammers play on your trust and urgency. Whether it’s a No Claim Bonus, maturity refund, or rider benefit—they invent fake rewards and ask for a small processing fee. Then another. Then another. Before you know it, the money’s gone.

Real insurance payouts never require upfront payment on a call.

What to do: If you’ve transferred money already, contact your bank and lodge a cyber complaint.

         3. “We’re calling from IRDAI/LIC/XYZ Regulatory Cell...” – No, They’re Not

Red Flag #3: They claim to represent an official authority to sound legitimate.

Fraudsters often pretend to be from IRDAI (India’s insurance regulator) or large insurers like LIC. They may even send fake PDFs or ID cards to “prove” their identity.

But the reality is: regulators never call individual policyholders about bonuses, refunds, or policy renewals.

What to do: Verify with the company or regulatory website. If the call was fake, report it on the IRDAI’s Grievance Redressal portal.

         4. “Your policy has lapsed, but I can revive it for you...” – This Is a Setup

Red Flag #4: The caller claims to know your insurer or policy status.

They might say your policy is inactive, or about to lapse, and that they can “revive” or “upgrade” it with your help. They’ll ask for your policy number, address, or payment to “process” the update.

In some cases, victims discover they’ve unknowingly signed up for a completely different policy under their name—or worse, paid for a fake one.

What to do: Never agree to changes over a phone call. Instead, check directly with your insurer. If you’ve already made a mistake, don't wait. Contact experts like Bima Seva Kendra, who specialize in cases of mis-selling of insurance policies and claim fraud.

          5. “I’m here to help you cancel your mis-sold policy. Just pay my fee.” – The ‘Fake Rescuer’ Scam

Red Flag #5: They pretend to be the solution.

Some scams now prey on people who’ve already been mis-sold or confused. A caller might say, “We know you were sold the wrong policy. For a small legal fee, we’ll cancel it and get you a refund.”

But the refund never arrives. And neither does the rescuer.

This is often the stage where policyholders finally realise they need real legal help, not another promise.

What to do: Don’t fall for this “one last payment” trap. Instead, contact a genuine legal support team like Bima Seva Kendra, who specialise in claim rejection related issues and complaints about insurance companies. Here is the toll free number for your convenience: +91 8655943027

        6. If It’s Already Happened to You, Here’s What to Do Next

Neha, a teacher in Pune, got a call offering a ₹38,000 “bonus refund” from her old insurer. The caller had her name and birthdate. She paid a ₹499 processing fee, then ₹1,300 for “income tax clearance,” then ₹3,500 for final approval.

The calls stopped. The number was deactivated. She was down ₹5,299—and left with no policy, no protection, and no idea what to do next.

Here is a gist of your steps in case you are dealing with insurance fraud

                    1. Don’t panic — act. Fraudsters rely on delay and confusion.

                    2. Call your insurer directly to check your actual policy status.

                    3. File a cyber complaint and, if money was lost, an FIR.

                    4. Reach out to a Subject Matter Expert like Bima Seva Kendra who can handle mis-selling, fake policies, and insurance fraud.

Bima Seva Kendra’s legal team with 100+ years of cumulative experience regularly helps victims who’ve lost money to-

                     ● Mis-selling / Fraud

                     ● Claim Rejection or Delayed

                     ● Claim Short-settled

                     ● Lapsed insurance policy

                     ● Health Claim Reimbursement

                     ● Delay in Claim Settlement

Call Bima Seva Kendra to understand your rights, rebuild your policy protection, and take control again—safely.

 

 

Final Thought: A Call Might Be Fake — But Your Protection Doesn’t Have to Be

If you’re unsure about a caller, always trust your instinct. If the offer sounds too easy, too urgent, or too rewarding—it probably isn’t real.

And if you’ve made a mistake, know this: you are not alone.

Many victims feel embarrassed. But you don’t have to fix this alone. Talk to someone who knows how to deal with these cases professionally.

Because insurance is meant to protect you—not become the reason you need protection.

---