Insurance fraud awareness: Prevention tips for a legitimate insurance policy 14^th November 2022

With technological advancement moving at an incredible pace, it becomes challenging to see the downside of such progress. All this growth and expansion in every industry has made it difficult for consumers to keep track of legitimate companies with genuine offers, deals, memberships, discounts, and much more.

And with the spread of misinformation across multiple social media channels and a lack of helpful and authentic information, it has become easier for scammers to cheat innocent consumers by misusing their identities and personal information.

Have these scammers spared the insurance sector? Unfortunately, not. These scams are framed so perfectly that it becomes tough for the customer to identify whether the call, message, or email is warrantable and authorised. While the insurance industry is tightening its security measures to avoid all kinds of data breaches and ensure that the consumer's privacy is not invaded, there are a few ways in which you, as a customer, can protect your personal information.

This blog will discuss the safe practices that customers must follow to prevent falling prey to frauds. So, without ado, let's get started.

1. Proper policy authentication is a must:

There are three steps involved in determining the legitimacy of a policy.

● Step 1: The first step consists in scanning the QR code printed on the policy copy provided to you.

● Step 2: This step entails contacting the call centre using the designated toll-free number.

● Step 3: The final step is to visit the nearest branch office with a copy of the policy you possess.

These steps ensure that the policy you decide to purchase is legal and in compliance with the rules and regulations, and there are zero risks of any scam or dubious activities.

2. Be careful while making payments:

When it comes to paying the premiums of your vehicle insurance, or any insurance for that matter, say no to cash payments. Please ensure that you use digital modes or platforms of payment.
Now, what constitutes digital payments? You can use your debit or credit cards, contactless payments (e.g., NFC), QR codes (UPI), digital devices, net banking, mobile money/e-wallets, etc. These digital payment methods make it easier for the sender and the receiver to track the payment and fetch the payment details in case of a mishap.
The records for cash payments can easily be created or destroyed and might not be considered legal and legitimate proof when required to be tracked during financial blunders. Plus, large amounts of cash are dangerous to carry/maintain. Also, digital payments come with additional layers of security like SSL, OTP verification, 2-step authentication, and more, making it challenging for fraudsters to hack into your personal information.

3. Stay away from policy mis-selling:

There have been several cases where potential customers have been convincingly promised benefits that are too good to be true. As a consumer, you need to refrain from mis-selling the policies. How can you detect if the policy being sold to you is a scam? You need to be very careful about the kind of offer the seller is trying to convince you of. If the policy offers and features seem exaggerated, avoid entertaining them from that point onwards. It would be best if you also were cautious of any combo offers the seller is trying to sell-bundling up insurance with mutual funds, fixed deposits, lockers, or other financial instruments. And read the policy document carefully before signing up for it or making any purchase.

4. Protect your identity proofs:

Several documents are considered legitimate identity proofs by the government of India. These documents are prioritised differently during different procedures. Despite that, you must ensure that you safeguard these identity proofs as such documents can easily be stolen and used for criminal for other illegal activities, creating a huge legal issue.
If your health insurance membership card is misplaced, lost, or stolen, you must report it immediately to the designated insurance provider. If you encounter any fraud or fraudulent person, you should instantly register a complaint with your insurance company. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) or your insurance provider will never call or approach you for any offers against the insurance policies.

5. Necessary checks on claim process:

Addressing all safety checkpoints is a half-done job. It is crucial to authenticate and ensure a fair claim procedure to be applicable for enjoying all the benefits enlisted in your insurance. The essential tips for validating necessary checks on the claim process include the following:

● Reading the estimate copy carefully and clarifying any doubts with your insurance agent/provider.

● Going through all the messages and emails received from your insurance company.

● Self-attesting all the claim documents before submitting them for further processing.

● Don’t sign any blank claim form, and always keep a copy of the documents you provide to your insurance provider.

This is all about the prevention tips for a legitimate insurance policy that you must know. In light of such scams and frauds being a nuisance for the companies and the consumers, both parties must be aware of their rights and any potential indications of fraud that need to be kept an eye on.

For further information on various types of insurance you might need, the benefits, how to purchase, and much more, do visit our website https://www.magmahdi.com

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.