Fraud & Cyber Security Awareness

Stay Alert. Stay Protected. Stay Secure. A customer awareness guide

At Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance (ABSLI), protecting your financial future means protecting you from those who try to exploit it. As insurance and payments move online, fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated, combining old-fashioned deception with modern cyber-attacks.

This guide explains how insurance fraud and cyber scams work, how to recognise the warning signs, and the simple habits that keep your money, your policy, and your personal data safe. Awareness is your strongest line of defence.

Remember: ABSLI will never ask for your password, OTP, CVV, or full card or bank details over a call, SMS, email, or social media. If someone does, it is a scam.

Understanding Insurance Fraud

Insurance fraud is any deliberate act of deception intended to gain an unfair or unlawful financial advantage. It can be aimed at the insurer, but very often the real victim is an ordinary customer who is tricked into paying money or handing over sensitive information.

Fraudsters succeed by creating a false sense of trust, urgency, or opportunity. They may impersonate an insurer, regulator, or government official, dangle an offer that looks too good to refuse, or warn of a problem that needs to be 'fixed' immediately. Understanding their playbook is the first step to staying safe.

Common Types of Insurance Fraud in India

1. Fake Calls and Messages.
Callers posing as insurer, IRDAI, or bank staff offer attractive policies, bonuses, or refunds and push you to pay into a personal account. Genuine premiums are never paid to an individual's account.

2. Spurious Bonus or Refund Scams.
Victims are told a large bonus, loyalty reward, or 'unclaimed maturity amount' is pending and can be released only after paying a processing fee, tax, or GST upfront. No legitimate payout requires you to pay first.

3. Policy Revival or Lapse Traps.
Fraudsters claim your policy has lapsed or has a problem and demand an immediate payment to 'revive' it. Always verify the status through official ABSLI channels before acting.

4. Mis-selling and Churning.
You may be persuaded to surrender an existing policy and buy a new one that benefits the seller, not you. Be cautious of advice that always ends in switching products.

5. Fake Websites and Apps.
Look-alike websites and apps mimic the ABSLI brand to capture your card, bank, or login details. Always check that you are on the official adityabirlacapital.com domain before entering information.

6. Nominee and Claim Fraud.
Scammers contact families of policyholders claiming a payout is ready in exchange for a fee. Real claim settlements never require the nominee to pay money to receive a benefit.

7. Identity and Document Forgery.
Forged signatures, tampered application forms, or incorrect personal details are used to manipulate a policy. Always review your policy document carefully when you receive it.

How Fraudsters Target Policyholders

Impersonation and Spoofing
Fraudsters can fake caller IDs, sender names, email addresses, and even official-looking documents. A familiar name on your screen is not proof of authenticity. When in doubt, end the interaction and contact ABSLI directly using the number on our official website or your policy document.

Unauthorised Transactions
Be alert to any message about activity on your policy that you did not initiate, such as:

• Fund switch: moving your investment between equity and debt funds without your consent.
• Premium redirection: diverting future premiums to a different fund or destination.
• Partial withdrawal or surrender: pulling money out of your policy.
• Contact-detail changes: updating your registered phone, email, or bank details to intercept communication.
  
  

Tip: Keep your registered mobile number and email up to date so you receive every genuine alert from ABSLI and can spot anything you did not authorise.

Cyber Security: Protecting Yourself Online

Most insurance fraud today begins with a digital trick. Building strong cyber habits protects not just your policy, but your entire financial life.

Recognise Phishing, Vishing and Smishing

• Phishing (email): fake emails with urgent subject lines and links to counterfeit login pages. Hover over links before clicking and check the real sender address.
• Vishing (voice call): callers who create panic or excitement to extract OTPs, card numbers, or remote access to your device.
• Smishing (SMS/WhatsApp): text messages with shortened links, fake KYC alerts, or reward offers. Never click unknown links or scan unfamiliar QR codes.
  
  

Secure Your Accounts and Passwords

• Use long, unique passwords for your insurance, banking, and email accounts; never reuse the same password.
• Turn on two-factor authentication wherever it is available.
• Never share OTPs, PINs, or passwords; no genuine ABSLI representative will ever ask for them.
• Avoid saving sensitive passwords in browsers on shared or public computers.
  
  

Make Safe Digital Payments

• Pay premiums only through official ABSLI channels: the website, the verified app, or authorised payment partners.
• Confirm the website address begins with 'https' and shows the correct adityabirlacapital.com domain.
• Be wary of UPI 'collect' requests; you never need to approve a request or enter a PIN or OTP to receive money.
• Avoid paying premiums in cash or to any individual's personal account.
  
  

Protect Your Devices and Networks

• Keep your phone, computer, and apps updated, and use trusted security software.
• Avoid accessing financial accounts on public Wi-Fi; use mobile data or a secure connection instead.
• Never install apps or 'support' tools requested by an unknown caller, especially screen-sharing or remote-access apps.
• Lock your devices with a strong PIN, password, or biometrics.
  
  

Guard Your Data and Privacy

• Share policy, Aadhaar, PAN, and bank details only when necessary and through secure channels only.
• Limit the personal information you post publicly on social media; fraudsters use it to sound convincing.
• Shred or securely delete documents containing sensitive financial information.
  
  

Emerging threat: Be alert to AI-generated voice calls, deepfake videos, and highly personalised messages. If a request feels urgent or unusual, pause and verify through an official ABSLI number before you act.

Smart Steps Before You Buy a Policy

Verify the insurer and the seller.
Confirm the company and agent are registered with IRDAI and check the agent's credentials before sharing any details.

Read before you sign.
Understand the coverage, premium, term, charges, and the free-look period so you can return the policy if it is not right for you.

Compare genuinely.
Treat unusually cheap or unusually generous offers with suspicion. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

Never rush.
A genuine insurer gives you time to decide. Pressure to pay or sign immediately is a classic warning sign.

Keep records.
Save receipts, policy documents, and official communication so you can verify details and report anything suspicious.

How to Verify a Genuine ABSLI Communication

• Ask any agent for valid identification and their IRDAI registration details.
• Cross-check phone numbers, email addresses, and links against the official ABSLI website and your policy document.
• Pay premiums only to ABSLI, never to an individual; insist on an official receipt.
• When in doubt, call ABSLI customer service directly rather than using a number provided by the caller.

Red-Flag Checklist

If you notice any of these signs, stop and verify before you act:

Warning Sign	What It Usually Means
Urgency or threats	Pressure to pay or share details 'right now' to avoid loss.
Upfront fees	A demand for tax, GST, or processing charges to release a payout.
Payment to an individual	Request to transfer premium to a personal account or wallet.
Requests for OTP / PIN	Any attempt to obtain your one-time password or card details.
Unverified links / apps	Links, QR codes, or apps you did not expect or cannot verify.
Offers too good to be true	Guaranteed high returns, large bonuses, or unrealistic discounts.

If You Suspect Fraud, Act Quickly

Acting fast can limit the damage. If you believe you have been targeted or have shared sensitive information:
1. Contact ABSLI immediately. Reach ABSLI customer service at 1-800-270-7000 to report the incident and secure your policy and account.

2. Email the details. Write to our team with the call, message, or transaction details. The customer-service email is service.lifeinsurance@adityabirlacapital.com.

3. Alert your bank. If money has moved or card or account details were shared, inform your bank to block transactions and prevent further loss.

4. Report to the authorities. Call the National Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930 or file a complaint at Cyber Crime Portal. Reporting within the first few hours greatly improves the chance of recovery.

Chakshu Portal : Sanchar Saathi Suspected Fraud Communication Reporting

Your vigilance protects everyone: Reporting suspicious activity helps ABSLI and the authorities disrupt fraud networks and safeguard fellow customers.

Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance - committed to protecting your trust.