A PAN (Permanent Account Number) card is one of the essential Government IDs for Indian Citizens. Individuals need to link their PAN with their Aadhaar numbers and bank accounts with the new government mandates. While this increases your convenience, the downside might cause misuse of your PAN for taking loans.

Are you concerned about PAN card fraud? Then, find out all about it with this article and avoid such situations.

According to a 2018 survey by IndiaSpend, a maximum number of bank frauds in India have their sources with PAN and Aadhaar cards. Particularly following the government regulation of linking Aadhaar numbers with PAN cards and bank accounts, various criminal activities have become common, resulting in PAN card frauds. For instance, you need to enter your PAN for booking railway tickets. It is then displayed on the prepared chart next to your name, making it easier for the hackers to find out your PAN.

Moreover, the processing of your PAN linking to your bank account is done through a third party. Therefore, the information can leak if the security is not strong. The same goes for visa applications and travel bookings. Misuse of a PAN card is also common when you enter your details for preparing a profile on a social media site.

One of the most common results of a PAN card fraud can be with a bank or other loans. Apart from banks, some financial services, such as Indiabulls Dhani app, provide loans only with a PAN verification. So if someone steals or hacks into your PAN, you might suddenly find loans against your name in your CIBIL. It not only causes a significant financial crisis but also hampers your CIBIL score.

The best way to check if someone is misusing your PAN card is by checking your credit score. This statement lists all the loans that you have taken using your PAN. If you find any listed loan you did not take, you will identify the fraud. In addition, the following steps can help you. 

• Step 1: There are various bureaus like TransUnion CIBIL, Equifax, Experian, Paytm, Bank Bazaar or CRIF High Mark available on the internet. You can choose whichever seems convenient for you.
• Step 2: Open the website and search for the option of “Check credit score”. It is usually free of cost, while some websites might ask you to choose a plan for getting a detailed credit score.
• Step 3: Enter accurate data regarding your date of birth, name, email ID, registered mobile number and PAN. You might have to verify your mobile number with an OTP.
• Step 4: You will be able to access your credit score. It will also include the loans that are currently existing in your name.

The ways in which PAN card frauds occur are as follows:

• While applying for credit card and loans

• During illegally purchasing jewellery

• While renting vehicles or hotel rooms

Now that you know the steps to find a PAN misuse, you should know how to report misuse of PAN cards. The Income-tax department under the Indian Government has developed an electronic website to file PAN Grievances through Aayakar Sampark Kendra (ASK). Therefore, you can follow the steps discussed below to report a misuse after you spot one in your PAN.

• Step 1: Visit the official portal of TIN NSDL. Search for the customer care section on the Home page. 
• Step 2: Select the “Customer care” tab. It will open a drop-down menu. 
• Step 3: Click on "Complaints/Queries" from the drop-down list. It will open a complaint form. 
• Step 4: Fill this form with your accurate data, describing the nature of the complaint. Enter the Captcha code and click on “Submit”.

You can follow the conditions mentioned below to avoid PAN card scams in future.

• Avoid entering your PAN everywhere. Instead, check the authenticity of the website. Use other ID details, such as driver’s license, voter ID, and Aadhaar cards, which are less vulnerable.
• Try to submit the photocopies of PAN only to authentic people or companies. Additionally, sign these photocopies with the date. Finally, keep track of where you are submitting these.
• Avoid entering your full name and date of birth on online portals. These can be used to track your PAN.
• You can de-link your Aadhaar card and bank accounts, as it is no longer a government mandate.
• Check your Credit score from time to time on online portals.

• Delete PAN  card details from your phone.

Therefore, as you can see, PAN card frauds are familiar with an increased wave of bank frauds and criminal hacking. Consequently, it is essential to keep your PAN free of such threats, or you might end up burdened under loans that hackers have taken using your details. You can avoid such issues if you follow the measures mentioned in this article.