Ghaziabad Cyber Crime Branch police arrested five men for running a brazen fake insurance scam that cheated victims out of over ₹95 lakh with promises of lucrative life insurance returns. The suspects posed as company executives to lure targets, issuing bogus receipts after collecting payments, as revealed in a police statement. A case under BNS sections for cheating and impersonation, along with the IT Act, now probes the full extent of their operations.
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Suspects Nabbed After Tip-Off Raid
Acting on intelligence, a dedicated team tracked and apprehended the fraudsters in Ghaziabad on Saturday following meticulous surveillance. All five hail from the district and formed a tight-knit group exploiting stolen customer data.
- Rishabh Kumar, 39, emerged as a key player with prior arrests.
- Vinay Gupta, 55, handled logistics alongside Ashish Pawar, 31.
- Himanshu Tyagi, 28, and Yashpal Verma, 28, managed victim contacts.
ADCP Piyush Kumar Singh confirmed the raid yielded critical evidence linking them to multiple scams.
Insider Data Fuels Deceptive Scheme
The gang sourced victim lists from ex-insurance firm employees Sharvan Tiwari, Himanshu Chaudhary, and an unidentified colleague, who supplied premium customer details. This database powered their cold-calling operation targeting policyholders.
- Posed as legitimate customer service reps from major insurers.
- Pitched irresistible “high-return” life and other policies.
- Sent counterfeit receipts post-payment to fake legitimacy.
Police statement highlights how prior industry access turned legitimate data into a weapon for fraud.
Seizures Expose Fraud Network
Raiders uncovered a trove of tools used to execute and conceal the scams, with forensic scans revealing the ₹95 lakh total defrauded. Items seized point to a professional setup spanning bank accounts and devices.
- 12 mobile phones loaded with call logs and scripts.
- 12 ATM cards and eight SIM cards for anonymous transactions.
- One cheque book and a car tied to their movements.
Investigators note Kumar and Gupta’s earlier Gujarat arrests in similar cyber frauds.
Broader Implications for Cyber Policing
This bust underscores Ghaziabad’s vulnerability to insurance-themed cybercrimes, often blending insider knowledge with tech anonymity. Ongoing probes target absconding masterminds like Tiwari and Chaudhary.
- Cases registered at Cybercrime Branch for coordinated action.
- Focus on tracing mule accounts and recovering victim funds.
- Signals rising need for data protection in financial sectors.
Authorities warn policyholders to verify calls directly with insurers amid such rackets.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
