A businessman in Malda was assured of Rs 90 lakh as a “jackpot insured amount”. He was even given a tablet as a gift by the agents. In good faith, he paid Rs 75,000 in premium within a year. However, when the time arrived for the insured amount to mature, the company stopped taking his calls. When he came to the office in Calcutta, they said they had no idea what he was talking because the person who had called him had quit his job. After making repeated attempts to convince the manager about his claim, the man was thrown out of the building.

“That is when some of his friends got him in touch with us,” Iman Mukherji, assistant director, Directorate of Consumer Affairs and Fair Business Practices, government of West Bengal, said.

He was speaking at a programme to commemorate National Consumer Day, organised by consumer affairs and fair business practices department, in association with Consumers' Association, Bidhannagar, and the Rotary Club of Salt Lake Central, at Prakash Bhavan.

With advocate Subir Chatterjee, a resident of FD Block, by his side, he spoke at length about how fraudsters across the city have been targeting citizens over the phone to reveal their monetary details and duping them of lakhs of rupees.

“In the case of the insurance fraud, we sent notices to the office and launched litigations. Finally, we sat for multiple negotiations till the entire amount was repaid to the poor man,” he said. He advised audience members to read the entire offer document and consult a lawyer while signing up for an insurance policy.

“Do not reveal any password or even birthday or other personal details to anyone on the phone. While buying electronic goods, read the literature provided carefully. Also, be very careful about products where you have to pay EMIs. We have seen cases where insurance premiums are also being added to EMIs for a particular electronic product. The money is deducted every month but the client has no idea at all about the add-on policy for the product,” he added.

Advocate Chatterjee explained the Consumer Protection Act. “The Act came into force in 1986 to protect the interests of consumers in India. It was replaced by the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. It was made for the establishment of consumer councils and other authorities for the settlement of consumer's grievances and matters connected there with it. This Act is regarded as the Magna Carta in the field of consumer protection for checking unfair trade practices, defects in goods and deficiencies in services in India. It has led to the establishment of a widespread network of consumer forums and appellate courts all over the country,” he said, adding how it has significantly impacted how businesses approach consumer complaints and have empowered consumers to a great extent.

Mukherji pointed to a pattern that has been noticed in fraudulent activities. “People are called up at random by frauds who pose as insurance policy agents and told that they would need to reveal passwords of their net banking accounts by luring them with higher interests and insured amounts for minimum premiums. One should only talk to people they know for sure are agents.”

He also cautioned against online purchase of clothes from companies that are outside one's city. “In that case, there is no option to go and re-check or ask for refund. For a product that costs Rs 5000, one could be wary of fighting a case in a consumer court, spending Rs 50,000. If you happen to live in Salt Lake, order from a company based in Rajarhat. Avoid ordering from companies based far from your area or city, because if anything goes wrong travelling to and fro could be unviable.”

Another kind of duping takes place in the real estate market, he warned. “There are hundreds of people who take advance payment and promise to hand over a complete flat within two years. But in most cases that does not happen. So, if you are booking a flat remember to have a legal contract for handover, and, if things go awry, keep required documents ready to sue the company. Also check if the land sale records are in order and all taxes have been paid by the promoter or builder. At times, the consumer has already started paying EMIs but the builder has not handed over the keys. That is completely illegal,” Mukherji said.

Dos and Don’ts

• Talk only to people you know for sure to be insurance agents.

• While signing up for an insurance policy, read the entire offer document and consult a lawyer.

• Do not reveal passwords of your net banking accounts

• Be very careful about products where you have to pay EMIs. Insurance premiums are added to EMIs without knowledge of the buyer.

• While buying property check if the land sale records are in order and all taxes have been paid by the builder.

• Get a legal contract to ensure timely handover of apartment