GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

Online scams have been on a stupendous rise, mainly because of the easy availability of smartphones and internet services. People are increasingly falling prey to unreal promises of big rewards and prizes offered by online scammers working 24x7 and trapping innocent people into their nets. They intend to make quick money by cheating them. Senior citizens are often more susceptible to such frauds as they are unsuspecting and trust people more easily.

Here are a few tips that senior citizens must be aware of to protect themselves from online scams.

1. Educate them:
Senior citizens are usually less proficient with modern technology. Hence, they are at higher risk of being targeted by online scammers for revealing their credit/debit card numbers, passwords, CVV and OTP, etc. The first step is educating senior citizens about the clever tactics and strategies of such online scammers.
They will then know not to trust messages with promises to get a handsome amount as a gift or prize, unreal discounts on products, or share personal information about their bank accounts, insurance policies, enter their personal information into forged or phishing pages, etc. They must be informed that they should never click on any suspicious link or respond to messages from unverified and unknown people.

2. Call blocking:
Several applications are available that help identify the caller and automatically block calls from spammers. Senior citizens should install such applications on their mobile phones so that they know beforehand that the incoming call is genuine or spam. Also, they can block spammers on their phones so they will not be able to call or harass them.

3. Use social media wisely:
Senior citizens should use social media wisely. They should refrain from posting photos and updates that reveal their daily schedule and activities. Scammers often use information you share on social media as a tool to pose as you, befriend your friends and known people and ask for financial help from them. They should lock their profile photo so that scammers cannot impersonate them on social media. Also, they should only accept friend requests from familiar people.
They should always double-check before helping any person financially through social media connections. If they get a message from their friend or relative asking for help, they should call him personally to ensure that the request for help is genuine.

4. Ask for help:
Senior citizens should never hesitate to ask for help from others if they feel that they are being targeted or have become a victim of an online scam. Scammers are talented and may ask them to act quickly to benefit from the limited-time deal. Also, they may threaten them with bank account blockage or closure if they do not share their important card and bank details.
Senior citizens should call their family members immediately and tell the situation correctly. Also, they may contact the respective call centre to verify the claims of the scammer before acting on them.

5. Reliable anti-virus:
Senior citizens should use strong anti-virus software so that their device is not affected by viruses, malware or spyware sent by scammers or hackers. They must configure their devices to download updates regularly and install them to keep them up-to-date.

Senior citizens should be thoughtful and proactive to protect themselves from the menace of online scams. They should be aware of scammers active in the field of insurance, telemarketing, and banking, etc.

Senior citizens should opt for a theft protection insurance to cover themselves from such thefts and fraud. It will protect them against all types of theft, including fraud and embezzlement.

Click HERE to buy a theft protection insurance to stay protected from online scams.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

Running a business involves many uncertainties and risks, making it a venture challenging for every business person. While it provides multifold rewards for the resources invested into it, it also requires a lot of effort and time to scale your business. Until then, you must consider multiple factors at all times whose fluctuations may adversely impact the business operations.

The risk of mishaps outside the control of the management is a constant source of worry since the loss caused by such incidents is enormous. A business's most common threats are natural disasters, fires, and explosions, especially in manufacturing entities. While there is no way to eliminate such threats directly, a comprehensive and adequate policy purchased from a fire insurance company goes a long way in insuring your business premises and assets from the damage caused by such events.

Here is a detailed understanding of why you should purchase a fire insurance policy for your business and the advantages it provides.

What is covered under a fire insurance policy?

A fire insurance cover protects your insurable assets against more than just fires. It covers damages due to fires, natural calamities, lightning, fire explosions, aircraft damages, landslides, and bushfires. A closer inspection of your insurance will provide greater insight into the events from which your business is secured.

While the cover has several inclusions, it also has notable exclusions that you must know. Some excluded events are wilful fires, electricity leaks, fires caused by short-circuiting, war, etc. It is essential to check the fine print of your contract before signing it.

Who can purchase a fire insurance policy?

A fire insurance company offers insurance covers against fire to businesses of any size and scale, asset holders like buildings or furniture, holders of inventory stock like retailers, godown owners, manufacturing entities, hotels and lodgings, and any other service-providing institutions. This is an inclusive list covering any person, company, or business holding assets that require protection against fires.

Advantages of fire insurance.

Now that we know who can purchase fire insurance coverage and which assets it can protect, here are the advantages it offers business owners.

1. Loss against damage:
The effect of a fire is unimaginable. While it is a contingent misfortune, it is best to be secured against such an event, as the loss is far too significant for a business to bear. A fire policy covers the loss caused by fire to any movable or immovable property of the business, reducing the financial loss incurred by the enterprise.

2. Wide range of inclusions & add-ons:
Besides fires, most fire insurances cover other events to make it a comprehensive policy. They provide options to include add-ons to increase the coverage at an added cost.
The list of additional events as add-ons comprises earthquakes, forest fires, consequential loss of profits, rent, etc. At the payment of a nominal price, you can ensure that your business is completely secured against any event related to fires.

3. Ease of restarting business:
In the event of a fire, it is challenging for a business to cover the losses and continue its operations at its original scale. With adequate fire insurance, it is easier to cope with the aftereffects as the business only has to focus on its operations instead of worrying about replacing the losses.

Therefore, it is fair to conclude that purchasing insurance coverage from a fire insurance company protects a business in the event of a contingent fire, as the advantages outweigh its cost. You must also ensure that you install and regularly keep the fire safety equipment up-to-date at your workplace.

Click HERE to buy insurance from the best fire insurance company.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

Personal information is an asset that one must safeguard at all costs. In the olden days, identity theft was limited to misrepresentation by misuse of a person's name and identity, but in the modern world, its implications are far more severe.

In the era of digitalisation, where a person's identity proofs are linked to their bank accounts and other financial databases, it is easy for a criminal to wreak havoc with a stolen identity. The most vulnerable personal identities generally stolen include social media accounts, PAN, Aadhar, email, and bank details.

While different kinds of thefts and infringements are often discussed, identity theft insurance in India is an under-discussed topic that few are aware of. It is essential to protect oneself from such contingent threats using adequate insurance. In the backdrop of a crisis, they play a vital role in recouping losses.

If you suspect that your identity has been impersonated, here are the steps you must take immediately.

1. Identify the violation:
The first step after discovering that there seems to be some misuse of your information is to determine the extent of unauthorised action. Once you have identified the broad area, which may be one of the following- credit, taxes, or government benefits fraud, amongst others, try to identify the source of misuse of information.

2. Notify appropriate authorities:
While you can trace the source of misuse by jogging your memory, it is often infeasible. Even if you can trace the origin, your immediate action should be to notify the concerned authorities of the fraud details. This means that there will be a different concerned authority to approach each type of identity misuse.
For example, you should notify the Department of Telecommunications if your documents have been used to register for a SIM card. For cybercrimes or online fraud, you should approach the cybercrime police department. Similarly, you should immediately notify your bank to stop the payments in case you witness any unauthorised bank transactions.

3. Identify the extent of the damage:
Once you have identified and reported the problem, it is time to find the damage incurred. You may simplify this by checking your bank statements and any financial databases by scrutinising any recent transactions that appear to be unordinary and unauthorised by you.

4. File for damages:
Once you have a general estimate of the amount of loss incurred, you can file a lawsuit under the existing laws in India that provide relief against such fraud after fulfilling the conditions. A lawyer's aid can help handle the case legally.

While these are the steps you can take after realising the theft of your identity, here are some precautionary measures to ensure that your confidential data is not breached.

● Never save passwords:
While saving passwords to your accounts provides convenience during login, it also increases your susceptibility to fraudsters looking for opportunities to steal your information.

● Do not use unreliable sites:
One must always be careful when sharing basic details or banking information on any site, especially for new or unrecognisable sites. Do your due diligence before taking on such risks to ascertain its authenticity.

● Utilise multiple authentications:
Most sites now offer 2-factor and 3-factor authentication to secure your account. Ensure that you optimise such facilities to keep your accounts and data safe.

● Dispose of physical copies of identification:
It is common for most official processes to require the submission of physical copies of original identification records. Ensure that the printer and receiver get rid of the documents immediately after the official use if fulfilled.

● Purchase identity theft insurance:
While it is not so common, it is ideal to purchase theft insurance in India to protect yourself from identity theft in case the need arises.

The constant development of technology brings convenience to our lives while opening new windows for mischievous minds to scam people and make profits. Always have the mindset to follow the above preventive measures to minimise or eliminate identity theft threats. And don't forget to have the best theft insurance in India for your rescue if you find yourself trapped in a fraud or compromised identity.

Click HERE to buy the best theft insurance in India.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

Regular office work requires prolonged periods of desk sitting. Because of this excessive sitting, people tend to get various health issues like obesity, diabetes and risk of some chronic diseases. This post will discuss how sitting all day at your desk can harm your health.

1. Sedentary lifestyles have become increasingly common:
People spend a lot of time sitting down, whether working, socialising, studying, or travelling. Whether behind the wheel, at a desk, or in front of the TV, most people spend over half of their day's hours seated. An office worker may sit for as much as 15 hours a day. However, the average agricultural worker spends less than three hours a day seated.

2. Calorie expenditure is reduced:
Calories are burned even while you're not exercising, just by standing, strolling, and fidgeting. This type of energy use is called non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT), and not getting enough of it is a big reason people gain weight.
No significant energy is used up by sitting or lounging around all day. It has a significant impact on your ability to burn calories through NEAT. Research shows that those who work in agriculture can burn up to 1,000 more calories per day than those who sit at a desk.

3. The risk of gaining weight while sitting is higher than when standing:
On average, obese people sit for an extra two hours a day compared to their normal-weight counterparts. It has been shown that prolonged sitting throughout the day can cause weight gain and a number of other health concerns.
Obesity or fat accumulation can lead to increased risks of heart disease and also put pressure on other vital organs like the liver, kidney, etc. You may also experience early joint pain, stiffness of body parts, backaches, and reduced stamina and endurance due to inactivity.

4. Sickness is associated with inactivity:
According to an analysis of data on more than a million people, sedentary lifestyles are associated with an increased risk of severe health conditions, early signs of ailments like hypertension and diabetes in younger people, and even cause premature death.
An increased risk of type 2 diabetes by 110% and heart disease by 140% have been linked to a lack of physical activity over the long term. Research has shown that sitting for long periods or walking less than 1,500 steps per day can significantly increase insulin resistance, a significant risk factor for type 2 diabetes.

5. Even if you work out regularly, you still are at risk:
Even if you work out hard for an hour, sitting for the rest of the day is still bad for your health. It is important to take short breaks and keep the constant movement of your body throughout the day to avoid getting at risk of health issues due to lack of motion. Regular walking and exercises are necessary to keep your body in its best shape.

While taking breaks is crucial, indulging in physical activities at regular intervals of the day is equally important. Those who spend their days sitting at a desk can benefit from investing in a standing desk or taking frequent breaks to walk around the office. Cutting down on how much time you spend sitting is just as crucial for your health as what you eat and how often you work out.

It would help if you also buy health insurance to ensure you get the best care possible without putting a strain on your finances during the time of need. Rising medical costs force many to make compromise with the situation. You can purchase insurance from the best health insurance company in India, which will keep you secure in such cases.

Click HERE to get insurance benefits from the best health insurance company in India.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.