A 69-year-old retired Subedar from the Hisar military cantonment in Haryana has fallen victim to a sophisticated online insurance scam, resulting in losses exceeding ₹1.5 million. Police sources confirmed that Subedar Karan Singh, who served in the Indian Army, suffered a financial setback of ₹1,516,338. The incident has shocked the local community and renewed concerns over the rising trend of online fraud targeting elderly citizens. A formal investigation is now underway at the cybercrime police station.
According to police reports, Karan Singh had purchased a life insurance policy in 2010 for ₹800,000, which was scheduled to mature in 2020. However, he received a sum significantly lower than expected. In September 2025, a woman contacted him by phone, presenting herself as a representative of the insurance company and claiming that a substantial balance, including accrued interest, was still pending.
The Scam Unfolds
Subsequently, a man posing as another company official intensified the deception. He claimed that the total pending amount, including interest, was ₹1,328,000 but insisted that certain advance fees must be paid before the money could be released. Trusting the caller, Karan Singh made multiple payments between October and November 2025.
Despite these payments, no funds were released. Instead, the fraudsters demanded increasingly larger sums, at one point claiming an additional ₹500,000. To meet these demands, Karan Singh resorted to using his personal savings and borrowing from neighbours.
The scam came to light only when Karan Singh shared his communications with his son, who immediately suspected online fraud and filed a complaint through the National Cyber Crime Portal. Following preliminary verification, an FIR was registered under applicable sections of Indian law, and police have formally begun their investigation.
Payments Made During Scam
| Date | Purpose | Amount (₹) |
|---|---|---|
| 17 October 2025 | Registration Fee | 17,928 |
| 31 October 2025 | Code Generation | 44,980 |
| 7 November 2025 | Release Charges | 87,884 |
| Various | Audit, Government & Processing Fees | 1,365,546 |
| Total | 1,516,338 |
Table based on police report
Cybercrime experts warn that insurance-related scams typically lure victims with promises of refunds or bonuses, only to demand fictitious fees or charges. Elderly and trusting individuals are particularly vulnerable, often falling for these communications without suspicion.
Authorities have urged the public to verify all such communications directly with official company customer service channels and to report any suspicious messages or calls immediately to law enforcement agencies.