| Address: ICICI Lombard House, 414, Veer Savarkar Marg, Near Siddhi Vinayak Temple, Prabhadevi, Mumbai - 400025. |
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am lodging this urgent complaint against ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited for their egregious misuse of my personal data and engagement in unethical, potentially fraudulent practices, including impersonation, which violate my privacy and pose a serious risk of financial harm. This complaint is intended to expose ICICI Lombard’s dangerous activities and ensure accountability, as their actions reflect systemic malfeasance that may harm other consumers, particularly vulnerable individuals.
On Saturday, May 24, 2025, at 12:00 PM IST, I received an unsolicited email from ICICI Lombard (sender:[protected]@newsletter. lombardinsure.com) with the subject “Your TripSecure+ quote is here.” The email falsely claimed I had requested a personalized quote for a TripSecure+ policy with the following details:
Product: Trip Secure Plus
Geography: US/Canada
Trip Duration: 7 Days
No. of Traveller (s): 1
Sum Insured: ₹2, 50, 000
Premium: ₹1, 412
I unequivocally state that I did not request this quote, nor have I ever expressed interest in purchasing a TripSecure+ policy or any insurance product from ICICI Lombard. I am not planning travel to the US or Canada, and I have not provided my personal details to ICICI Lombard or their affiliates. Since receiving this email, I have been subjected to repeated unsolicited calls from individuals claiming to represent ICICI Lombard, attempting to pressure me to complete the purchase. This constitutes a deliberate attempt to impersonate me and misuse my personal information for fraudulent purposes, possibly facilitated by automated tools such as Robotic Process Automation (RPA).
I strongly suspect that ICICI Lombard or their affiliated agents/partners obtained my email and phone number without consent, possibly through unauthorized data sharing or breaches involving third parties, such as job portals (e. g., Naukri, Shine, Indeed, Foundit), where I have registered with the same email address. This fraudulent activity suggests that ICICI Lombard is complicit in procuring and exploiting consumer data to generate unauthorized insurance quotes, potentially to meet sales targets or perpetrate scams. Such practices pose a significant risk of impersonation and financial harm, as unauthorized form-filling could lead to unintended financial obligations or identity theft.
ICICI Lombard’s actions violate the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDPA), which prohibits processing personal data without explicit consent and mandates transparency in data sourcing. Their practices also contravene the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, by engaging in unfair trade practices and the IRDAI guidelines on ethical marketing, which require prior consent for soliciting insurance products. These activities are not only unethical but dangerous, as they disproportionately target vulnerable consumers, such as the elderly or those with limited technological literacy, who may fall victim to fraudulent schemes.
I urge the National Consumer Helpline to take the following actions to address ICICI Lombard’s fraudulent and dangerous practices:
Investigate how ICICI Lombard obtained my personal data (email and phone number) and identify any third parties (e. g., data brokers, job portals, or agents) involved in this unauthorized data use.
Compel ICICI Lombard to immediately cease all communications (emails, calls, or otherwise) related to insurance products or quotes directed to me.
Mandate the deletion of my personal data from ICICI Lombard’s systems and those of their affiliates, in accordance with my rights under the DPDPA.
Require ICICI Lombard to provide written confirmation that no insurance policy has been issued in my name and no financial transactions have been initiated.
Conduct a thorough probe into ICICI Lombard’s data acquisition and marketing practices to prevent further consumer harm and ensure compliance with data protection laws.
ICICI Lombard’s reckless disregard for consumer privacy and their engagement in fraudulent activities, including impersonation, is unacceptable and demands immediate regulatory scrutiny. By making this complaint public, I aim to ensure that ICICI Lombard’s dangerous practices are visible on platforms like Google, alerting other consumers to the risks posed by their data misuse. The systemic nature of this issue, potentially involving unregulated data brokers or lax oversight of third-party agents, underscores the need for stringent action to protect the public.
If this matter is not addressed promptly, I will escalate it to:
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) via the Integrated Grievance Management System.
The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, as this may constitute a cybercrime involving unauthorized data use and impersonation.
Legal authorities under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the DPDPA for compensation due to mental harassment and potential financial risk.
I request that the National Consumer Helpline acknowledge receipt of this complaint, provide a reference number, and take swift action to hold ICICI Lombard accountable. This complaint should serve as a public record of their fraudulent and dangerous activities to protect other consumers from similar harm.
Sincerely,
Prashant V Gaikar
Was this information helpful?
Post your Comment