IRDAI Warns Against Fake Bima Bharosa Website

Insurance policyholders have been advised to remain cautious as fraudsters increasingly create official-looking websites to steal sensitive information.

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has flagged “igmsirdai.online”, which allegedly impersonates its insurance grievance platform.

The website reportedly features a complaint-registration page designed to appear legitimate.

IRDAI clarified that the site is unauthorised and urged consumers not to use it or submit personal, policy or financial details.

IRDAI clarified that the website is not an authorised platform and urged consumers to avoid accessing it.

Policyholders have also been advised not to register complaints, make payments or share personal, policy, banking or other financial information through the fraudulent website or its links.

The regulator’s official grievance platform, Bima Bharosa, allows policyholders to register and track insurance complaints.

Consumers should access it only through the official bimabharosa.irdai.gov.in website and verify the address before entering any details.

IRDAI has specifically warned against sharing KYC details, policy information, banking credentials, passwords or OTPs with unverified platforms.

The same caution applies to emails, phone calls, SMSes and WhatsApp messages claiming to represent the regulator.

People who have already shared sensitive information through the suspected website should take immediate precautionary steps.

If banking details have been shared, policyholders should immediately contact their bank and watch for unusual transactions.

They should also report suspected fraud to cybercrime authorities or the police when required, helping prevent further financial losses.

The regulator has further cautioned consumers against making payments through unauthorised platforms claiming to facilitate insurance complaints.

Policyholders should avoid unsolicited links and verify official websites before sharing information. They must never disclose OTPs, passwords, banking or KYC details to unverified platforms.

IRDAI has cautioned that it will not be liable for losses, data breaches or other consequences arising from interactions with fraudulent websites impersonating the regulator or unauthorised platforms claiming to provide grievance redressal services.

Image by Insurance Experts from Pxhere (Free for commercial use / CC0 Public Domain)

Image published on April 05, 2024

Image Reference: https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1686576