In a public notice, the regulator said it had come across “igmsirdai.online”, including a page for registering complaints, which appeared to present itself as an IRDAI-related grievance platform.
IRDAI clarified that the website is not an official IRDAI website and advised the public not to access it, register complaints or submit personal or financial information through the platform.
What is Bima Bharosa?
Bima Bharosa is IRDAI’s grievance redressal platform for insurance policyholders. It allows consumers to register and track insurance-related complaints with the regulator.
Policyholders can access the official Bima Bharosa portal at bimabharosa.irdai.gov.in. Consumers should verify the website address before entering any personal or policy-related information.
What has IRDAI warned against?
The regulator has advised policyholders not to share personal, policy, financial, banking, KYC or OTP-related information on the suspected website or on any other platform claiming to represent IRDAI without verification.
IRDAI has also cautioned against making payments or sharing banking credentials, passwords, OTPs or other confidential information in response to communications received through such websites.
The warning extends beyond websites. Policyholders should be cautious of emails, messages and phone calls that use IRDAI’s name, logo or terminology or otherwise claim to be associated with the regulator.What should you do if you have already shared details?
IRDAI has advised people who have already submitted personal, policy or financial information through the suspected website to take appropriate precautionary measures and, where necessary, report the matter to the relevant cybercrime or law-enforcement authorities.
If banking or financial information has been shared, contacting the concerned bank or financial institution promptly and monitoring accounts for unusual transactions can also help limit potential losses.
How can policyholders stay safe?
Before filing an insurance grievance online, check that you are using the official Bima Bharosa portal. Do not rely on links received through unsolicited emails, SMSes, WhatsApp messages or calls.
Policyholders should also remember that OTP, passwords and banking credentials should never be shared with anyone claiming to help register or resolve an insurance complaint.
IRDAI said it will not be responsible for losses, disclosure of information or other consequences arising from interaction with unauthorised or fraudulent websites impersonating the regulator.
