Fraudsters Posed As Ombudsman Officials, Insurers Over Eight Years
Surat: A 66-year-old doctor from Surat on Thursday alleged that fraudsters posing as insurance ombudsman officials and insurance company representatives defrauded him of Rs 1.5 crore over eight years by promising to recover money from his late father’s mutual fund investments.According to a complaint registered with Surat Cyber Crime police station, the victim, an MBBS doctor who runs a clinic in the city, was targeted between Jan 2018 and March 2026.Police said the doctor was first contacted in 2018 by individuals claiming to be officials of the insurance ombudsman. They told him that funds linked to his father’s old mutual fund investments could be recovered after certain formalities.The accused told him he would have to buy insurance policies by paying a single premium. After he agreed, he was issued 12 policies from companies including HDFC Life, IndiaFirst Life and Bharti AXA. Policy certificates were also provided, after which the accused demanded additional payments under various heads.The doctor did not initially make those payments and put the policies aside. In 2023, he approached the insurance ombudsman regarding the policies but, according to the complaint, received no response.A few days later, he allegedly received a call from a person claiming to be an officer from the insurance ombudsman’s office. The complainant identified two of the accused as Piyush Desai and Rajiv Shukla.They allegedly assured him that the policy amounts would be returned and convinced him to make repeated payments towards purported premium dues, GST, RBI clearance certificates and other charges. Between 2023 and 2026, he transferred a total of Rs 1.5 crore to various bank accounts.In March 2026, the accused threatened him saying that the enforcement directorate would begin an inquiry if he failed to pay further charges.Police said the doctor then realised he had been cheated and contacted the 1930 national cybercrime helpline. Surat cybercrime police registered an FIR on Thursday and launched an investigation.
