Surat Cyber Fraud: ₹1.5 Crore Insurance Scam Uncovered

Surat cyber crime police have arrested three men, including a retired college professor, for allegedly cheating a Surat policyholder of ₹1.5 crore through a fake insurance refund scheme. Investigators said the case has uncovered links to 47 bank accounts associated with 73 cyberfraud complaints across 15 states.

The accused have been identified as Atul Sharma, 64, a former professor who worked at IMT College in Ghaziabad; Mahesh Sharma, 43; and Sonu Thakur, 32. According to the complaint, the men allegedly contacted a Surat resident while posing as representatives of the insurance ombudsman and offered to help secure refunds on about 15 insurance policies.

Police said the victim was persuaded to transfer money on different pretexts, including processing charges, resulting in an alleged loss of ₹1.5 crore. The case illustrates how fraudsters can exploit the complexity of insurance procedures and use the identity of regulatory or grievance-redress authorities to gain the confidence of policyholders.