Police Advise Caution After Victims Lose Up to ₹12 Lakh Each
Key Highlights:
- Noida police uncovered a fake call center in Sector 11 involved in insurance fraud.
- Four individuals, including a woman, were arrested for duping victims across Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu.
- The group impersonated insurance representatives and used stolen data to mislead policyholders.
A sham call center operating from Sector 11 in Noida has been busted, with police arresting four people for their involvement in insurance fraud that cost victims up to ₹10–12 lakh each. The operation, which targeted unsuspecting individuals in Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu, had been running for two months before being exposed.
The Accused and Their Modus Operandi
The accused — Pankaj Kumar Singh (28) and Rahul Yadav (29) from Delhi, Kushagra Pandey (24) from Noida, and Rajpal Singh (30) from Rajasthan — impersonated representatives of insurance companies and ombudsman officials to deceive policyholders. They accessed stolen data, primarily from PNB MetLife insurance, to present fake policy renewal offers at discounted rates.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Yamuna Prasad, “If victims resisted, they were threatened with financial recovery actions.” This strategy was designed to intimidate and coerce victims into transferring money.
Discovery and Arrests
The scam came to light when policyholders contacted PNB MetLife to verify the renewals and discovered no such transactions existed. Acting on complaints, the police tracked the suspects, who frequently operated from temporary locations to avoid detection. Phones, laptops, and critical documents were recovered during the raid.
The accused have been booked under sections 319(2), 318(4), and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the Sector 24 police station.
Police Advisory
DCP Yamuna Prasad advised citizens to verify caller credentials before transferring funds, emphasizing, “Fraudsters leverage their knowledge of the insurance and banking sectors to manipulate victims convincingly.”
Broader Implications
This incident highlights the growing prevalence of data breaches and targeted scams in the insurance sector. Victims were carefully chosen and manipulated using detailed personal information, demonstrating the need for stronger data protection measures.
The Noida police’s swift action in busting this fake call center serves as a warning to fraudsters while reminding citizens to remain vigilant against such schemes.
