In yet another case highlighting the growing menace of cyber fraud, a woman in Kanpur was cheated of ₹6.53 lakh by cybercriminals posing as representatives of a private insurance company. Following the victim’s complaint, a case has been registered at the cyber crime police station and an investigation into the financial transactions is underway. Preliminary findings suggest that the fraudsters used insurance-related technical terminology and procedural jargon to gain the victim’s trust and extract money in multiple stages.
The incident pertains to the Ram Bagh area under the Bajaria police station limits. According to the complaint, the woman received phone calls from unidentified individuals who claimed to be associated with an insurance company. The callers informed her that certain formalities related to her insurance policy were pending and warned that failure to complete them would result in denial of policy benefits or refunds.
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Fraud began with agent code conversion
As per the complaint, the fraudsters first convinced the woman that her “agent code” needed to be converted into a “personal code” to keep the policy active. For this so-called conversion process, she was asked to deposit ₹50,000. She was assured that once the code was updated, all policy-related benefits would be restored automatically.
Soon after, the callers introduced another requirement — the opening of an “e-insurance account.” Claiming it to be mandatory under new digital norms, they demanded ₹56,000, stating that without this account, no transactions, updates or refunds related to the policy could be processed.
Tax and NOC charges used to extract larger sums
When no tangible benefit followed the initial payments, the fraudsters escalated their demands. Citing pending “tax charges,” they persuaded the victim to transfer an additional ₹2.05 lakh. Subsequently, she was told that a “No Objection Certificate” was required to release policy-related dues.
Under this pretext, two more payments were extracted — ₹70,940 and ₹70,705 — transferred in separate instalments. Each time, the woman was assured that the payment being sought was the final requirement and that the refund or policy benefit would be released immediately thereafter.
In this manner, the fraudsters siphoned off a total of ₹6.53 lakh through carefully staged and misleading communications.
Multiple identities used to avoid suspicion
The victim stated that the callers frequently changed their identities during phone conversations. At different times, they introduced themselves using different names and contacted her from multiple phone numbers. This tactic helped create confusion and delayed suspicion, allowing the fraud to continue over an extended period.
When repeated payments failed to yield any official documentation or financial benefit, the woman realised she had been defrauded and approached the cyber crime police station to lodge a formal complaint.
Experts flag rising insurance-related cyber fraud
According to the Future Crime Research Foundation (FCRF), cyber fraud cases linked to insurance policies, investments and digital financial services are rising sharply across the country. The organisation notes that fraudsters exploit limited technical awareness among citizens by using complex terminology, fabricated procedures and urgency-driven digital payment demands.
Former IPS officer and noted cyber crime expert Prof. Triveni Singh said such scams thrive on fear and confusion. “Terms like insurance compliance, tax clearance, NOC and digital accounts intimidate victims. Cybercriminals deliberately create pressure to force quick decisions, which leads to financial loss. Any demand for money over unsolicited calls should be treated as a red flag,” he said.
Investigation underway, public urged to remain cautious
Following registration of the case, cyber crime investigators have begun examining bank accounts, transaction trails and call records linked to the fraud. Efforts are underway to trace the flow of money and identify the individuals behind the scam.
Authorities have urged citizens to remain vigilant, avoid sharing personal or financial information over unknown calls or messages, and verify any insurance-related communication directly with official company channels. In case of suspected fraud, individuals are advised to immediately contact the cyber crime helpline or report the matter to the nearest police station.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
