The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) in a letter to the Chief Executives of all General and Life Insurance companies has said that it has received complaints about certain spurious calls identifying themselves as IRDA employees in a bid to sell policies.

"It is necessary for the insurers too to get this matter investigated and initiate necessary action," IRDA executive Director A Giridhar said. IRDA has filed a police complaint to stop this menace and also issued a notice cautioning people regarding such callers.

In addition, IRDA has also written to some of the insurers, whose names these callers are purported to have used. The regulator asked the insurance companies, "to initiate necessary steps to help eliminate this menace where ever such call received from members of the public trying to verify the authenticity of such calls."