Thousands of Apple Watch buyers in India are accusing HDFC Ergo and Zopper of misleading them with false promises of a 100% cashback offer under the “India Gets Moving” campaign. Apple, HDFC Ergo and Zopper now face a lawsuit and scrutiny from Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). Customers allege that these companies violated Consumer Protection Act, indulged in unfair trade practices and fraud.
In November 2024, Zopper launched the “India Gets Moving” campaign in collaboration with HDFC Ergo. The initiative aimed to promote fitness by offering customers 100% cashback on the invoice value of an Apple Watch. To qualify, participants had to complete 15,000 steps daily, track them using the Apple Watch, and accumulate points. The cashback was promised upon successful claim submission.
A legal notice dated February 5, 2025, a copy of which is with Storyboard18, sent by Rajesh Tandi, 26, from Rajasthan to HDFC Ergo, states that Tandi purchased an Apple Watch worth Rs 49,990 from an authorized Apple store. The notice alleges that HDFC Ergo violated the Consumer Protection Act and engaged in unfair trade practices and fraud. HDFC Ergo allegedly terminated the insurance policy unfairly without providing adequate clarification.
The notice further states that a formal lawsuit will be filed against HDFC Ergo, and a police complaint will be registered if the company fails to refund the amount it had committed.
This is not the only incident in which Apple Watch buyers have complained. Thousands of consumers have raised their grievances with the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). Multiple buyers criticized Apple, HDFC Ergo, and Zopper on social media, calling it a “mega scam.”
The “India Gets Moving” initiative combined wellness and insurance benefits. As part of the program, participants could earn rewards equivalent to the cost of an Apple Watch by meeting daily fitness targets, such as walking 15,000 steps. Eligible models included the Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch Ultra, and others.
Storyboard18 reached out to Apple, HDFC Ergo, and Zopper for their response. This story will be updated once we receive an official statement.
Even customers who maintained transparency, accurately tracked their steps, and provided additional health data, such as GPS and heart rate records, faced claim denials.
Another consumer from Delhi who purchased an Apple Watch on loan said, “This is a scam. Over 50,000 watches were sold based on false claims. We received a bulk email on February 2 stating that our claims had been rejected and our insurance policies terminated. Despite providing legitimate proof of recorded steps, the company terminated our policies without any valid justification.” Storyboard18 couldn’t independently verify the consumer’s claims.
The user added, “We plan to not only file a fraud case against Apple, HDFC Ergo, and Zopper but also stage a protest against this white-collar scam.”
A customer from Noida said, “Apple and HDFC Ergo are brands we trust. We never expected that they would scam us by selling products based on false promises. We reached out to Apple and HDFC Ergo for a refund or to continue the program, but they have failed to resolve our grievances.”
The offer for this program was only available at Apple outlets and premium resellers in India, including Invent, Unicorn, and others. Purchases made through the official Apple website, Amazon, Flipkart, or other retailers were not eligible for this offer.
Customers flocked to these retail outlets seeking refunds; however, their issues remained unresolved, as HDFC Ergo — not Apple — was responsible for rejecting the claims.