Mumbai police have arrested 12 individuals who pretended to be HDFC ERGO staff and siphoned off credit card details, resulting in a fraud of more than ₹3.4 lakh. The investigation uncovered fake call centres, scripted scripts, and seized assets worth over ₹17 lakh.

Key Takeaways

  • 12 suspects arrested for posing as HDFC ERGO representatives to commit fraud.
  • Fraudsters used a fake call centre and pre‑written scripts to extract credit‑card information.
  • Police seized assets worth ₹17,18,200, including 28.05 g of gold and numerous electronic devices.

Mumbai police detained twelve people who masqueraded as employees of HDFC ERGO, tricking victims into surrendering credit‑card details. The operation came to light after a complainant filed a report at the Govandi police station on June 22, alleging that the fraudster, claiming to be from the HDFC ERGO Health Policy Office, requested his card information to process a “no claim bonus” of ₹1,53,825.

Unveiling the Scam

Following the complaint, an FIR was lodged and investigators traced the counterfeit call centre to “MK Recruitment Man Power” located in Kohinoor City Mall, Kurla West. Two additional fake centres were raided in Sai Lilavati Niwas Gala and Asalfa Village. All locations operated under a coordinated scheme, employing scripted dialogues to persuade customers to disclose sensitive data.

Police Action and Seizures

During the raids, officers confiscated computers, laptops, routers, mobile phones, and SIM cards from multiple telecom providers. The haul included 29 computers, five laptops, fifteen mobiles, three routers, fifteen SIM cards, and 28.05 grams of gold, amounting to assets worth ₹17,18,200. Evidence showed that the perpetrators used the stolen card details for online purchases and parcel deliveries.

Methodology and Future Implications

The use of pre‑written scripts highlights a growing trend in cyber‑enabled financial fraud, where scripted calls make scammers appear legitimate. This not only threatens the insurance sector but also broader financial services. Regulators must now consider stricter oversight of call‑centre operations and launch consumer‑awareness campaigns to curb such scams.