24-year-old arrested for intimidating and defrauding people in a fake insurance scam

A 24-year-old man has been apprehended for allegedly threatening and deceiving a resident of Puttur in a sophisticated fake insurance scam, resulting in the loss of over ₹2.37 lakh, according to police reports.

Modus Operandi

Investigators revealed that the accused, identified as Avinash Ramesh Gowda, repeatedly contacted the victim, claiming to be a representative of a legitimate insurance company. He purportedly offered to arrange a new insurance policy. When the victim declined the offer, the caller allegedly resorted to intimidation, threatening to cancel the complainant’s existing policy and creating a sense of urgency and panic.

Exploiting this fear, the suspect manipulated the victim into disclosing sensitive banking information, including his credit card number and one-time password (OTP). Using these details, approximately ₹2.37 lakh was illicitly transferred from the victim’s account to an unknown recipient.

Arrest and Investigation

The case was formally registered at the Dakshina Kannada District Cyber Crime Police Station under relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Following a detailed cyber investigation, including digital tracking of calls and bank transactions, police arrested Gowda on 11 February.

He was subsequently presented before a magistrate and remanded in judicial custody. Authorities confirmed that further investigations are ongoing to determine whether the accused has connections to other similar insurance-related frauds across the region.

Public Advisory

Cybercrime officials have urged citizens to exercise caution and never share banking credentials, credit card information, or OTPs with unsolicited callers, even if they claim to be representatives of financial institutions or insurance firms.

Authorities highlighted that threats of policy cancellation are a common tactic employed by fraudsters to coerce victims into hasty decisions. Citizens are encouraged to verify such calls directly with authorised insurers and report any suspicious activity immediately to local cybercrime authorities.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the evolving methods used in digital financial fraud, reinforcing the need for vigilance in safeguarding personal and financial information.