Ahmedabad Police Inspector Loses ₹5.4 Lakh to Insurance Scam

A 45-year-old police inspector in Ahmedabad lost ₹5.4 lakh to a scam after fraudsters posed as insurance officials and promised her a refund and maturity payout of ₹19.5 lakh. The scam began on August 11 when the inspector received a call from a number claiming to represent an insurance company's Delhi headquarters.

The caller mentioned two policies held by the inspector and said an agent had claimed 80 per cent of the policy amount. He offered to register a complaint and sent her an acknowledgement number to make the process appear genuine. Another caller then introduced himself as a manager and claimed the inspector had paid premiums worth ₹10.8 lakh and earned ₹8.7 lakh in interest.

He promised a payout of ₹19.5 lakh if she closed the policies. The scammers demanded ₹99,227 as a processing charge, which the inspector paid in instalments using a QR code and bank transfers. They later sought ₹4.4 lakh as refundable GST, and she transferred ₹50,000 through a QR code and ₹3.9 lakh through two bank transactions on August 19 and 20.

The inspector became suspicious when a caller claimed her policy value had risen to ₹24.9 lakh and asked her to maintain ₹5.1 lakh in an insurance e-account before the payout could be released. She called the cybercrime helpline on August 25 and filed a police complaint.

The incident highlights the importance of verifying payout claims directly through official insurer channels. Requests for advance processing fees, GST payments, QR-code transfers, or deposits into unknown accounts are major warning signs. Victims should immediately alert their bank and report cyber fraud by calling 1930.

The Ahmedabad police inspector's case is a reminder that even law enforcement officials can fall victim to such scams. It is essential for policyholders to be cautious and verify the authenticity of claims before making any payments.

The scam is a classic example of a phishing attack, where fraudsters use personal details to gain the trust of their victims. In this case, the scammers used the inspector's policy details to convince her that the payout was genuine.

The incident also highlights the need for awareness about cyber fraud and the importance of reporting such incidents immediately. By being vigilant and taking prompt action, victims can minimize their losses and help prevent such scams from happening in the future.

In conclusion, the Ahmedabad police inspector's case serves as a warning to all policyholders to be cautious when dealing with insurance claims and to verify the authenticity of claims before making any payments. It is essential to be aware of the warning signs of cyber fraud and to report such incidents immediately to minimize losses and prevent such scams from happening in the future.