Insurance bonus, lapsed policy refund or "unclaimed money" call
A caller says money is due on an old or lapsed policy and that a fee or tax must be paid to release it.
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How it works
- A caller says he is from your insurance company or the insurance regulator, and that a bonus or refund is due on an old or lapsed policy.
- He knows your name and policy details, and says a fee, GST, TDS or "NOC charge" must be paid first to release a large amount.
- Each payment brings a new charge from a new "officer", and the refund never comes.
What it looks like
Example messages. Numbers and links are masked.
Sir, your lapsed policy has a bonus of Rs 4,80,000 pending. To release it, you have to pay Rs 18,000 TDS today in this account.
I am calling from the policy refund department. Your agent cheated you, but we can return all your premiums after you pay the clearance fee.
Red flags
- Money due on a policy you had forgotten
- Tax or fee to pay before release
- Payment to a personal bank account
- Several "officers" calling one after another
The one question to ask
Why would your own insurance company need a payment from you before giving you your money?
Already paid or shared details?
Call 1930 at once and file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in with the caller numbers and payment receipts. For any real question about your policy, call your insurer on the number printed on your policy papers, or raise a complaint through IRDAI's Bima Bharosa.
1930 · cybercrime.gov.in
Also seen as
- Call saying your agent misused your premium
- "Unclaimed" provident fund or dividend refund call
- Offer to "upgrade" an old policy for a fee