How to Check and Report Misuse of an Aadhaar Card?

The Aadhaar card is one of the most essential documents for an Indian resident. It serves as proof of identity and address throughout the country. It is a 12-digit ID number which uniquely identifies its holder. You can use the Aadhaar card as your identity proof, along with availing government schemes, internet and phone connections, and banking services.

However, your Aadhaar card may get stolen, or you may lose it and suddenly get a message of fraudulent activity. In such scenarios, keeping your Aadhaar card details safe and secure is important. This article covers how to prevent Aadhaar card misuse.

What is Aadhaar Card Fraud and its Potential Consequences?

Aadhaar card fraud involves unauthorised access or manipulation of India's unique identification system. Consequences include financial losses, identity theft, and misuse of personal data for fraudulent activities. 

Victims may face difficulties in accessing services, financial transactions, or even legal implications. To mitigate risks, individuals should safeguard their Aadhaar details, report any suspicious activities promptly, and stay informed about security measures implemented by authorities. 

The government continually works to enhance security protocols to protect citizens from potential fraud associated with Aadhaar cards.

Examples Of Aadhaar Card Fraud Cases

Below are some of the examples of misuse of the Aadhaar card:

• Suppose you submitted your Aadhaar card to any private or government institution. If this information is stored on an unprotected network, a hacker can steal this information and impersonate you. A hacker can commit crimes by using your identity.
• There have been several cases of criminals using the Aadhaar biometric information to steal money. By exploiting the Aadhaar-enabled Payment System (AePS), criminals have withdrawn money from the victim’s account. 
• There have been situations where certain scammers convince common people to link their Aadhaar cards with different services such as mobile numbers or bank accounts. They then use this opportunity to extract personal information or even request fees related to fraud activities.
• In 2018, the then chief of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), R S Sharma, tweeted his Aadhaar number and challenged people on social media to harm him by using it. Soon, people were able to trace his personal details on the internet. A person even deposited Re. 1 in his account. Further, there was a case of a person photoshopping Sharma’s details to create fake accounts on Amazon Web Service and Facebook.
• In 2017, the government admitted that 210 websites of the Union and state governments were displaying the personal and Aadhaar information of beneficiaries. A criminal can use such information to violate the privacy of individuals and commit crimes.

How To Check Misuse Of Aadhaar Card?

Here are the steps to check whether your Aadhaar card has been misused or not:

Step 1: Visit the myAadhaar portal. 

Step 2: Click on login on the right-hand side.

Step 3: Enter your Aadhaar number, and captcha code, and click ‘Login With OTP’.

Step 4: Enter the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-registered phone number and click ‘Login’.

Step 5: Click on ‘Authentication History’.

Step 6: Select ‘All’ under the ‘Select Modality’ option. Select the start date and the end dates for which you want to check your authentication history and click ‘Fetch Authentication History’.

Now you can see the history of authentications done with your Aadhaar details. You can file a complaint on the official UIDAI website if you find any suspicious activities.

How To Lock Your Aadhaar Card Biometrics Online?

You can lock your Aadhaar card to prevent its misuse. Please remember that you need your virtual ID to lock your Aadhaar card. If you don't have one already, you can create it from the official website. Once you have your virtual ID, here are the steps you will have to follow to block your Aadhaar.

Step 1: Visit the myAadhaar portal. 

Step 2: Scroll down and click on ‘Lock/Unlock Aadhaar’.

Step 3: Read the guidelines and click on ‘Next’.

Step 4: Enter the virtual ID, your full name, Pincode, and captcha, and click on ‘Send OTP’.

Step 5: Enter the OTP and click on ‘Submit’ to lock your Aadhaar card.

How To Report Misuse Of Aadhaar Card?

You can call the number 1947, email - help@uidai.gov.in, or lodge a complaint on the UIDAI website to report the fraudulent activities of your Aadhaar card.

How To Prevent Misuse Of Aadhaar Card Photocopy?

One way to prevent the misuse of your Aadhaar card photocopy is to attest your signature and provide the purpose for which it is being provided, along with the date and time.

Another step you can take is to provide a masked Aadhaar instead. In a masked Aadhaar, the first 8 digits of your Aadhaar number are masked. Here are the steps to download a masked Aadhaar card:

Step 1: Visit the official myAadhaar portal and log in with your credentials.

Step 2: Click on ‘Download Aadhaar’.

Step 3: Click on ‘Do you want a masked Aadhaar?’ and click on ‘Download’.

It is recommended that you do not use a public computer, such as the one in an internet cafe, to download your Aadhaar card. If you use a public computer, ensure your downloaded Aadhaar card is deleted from that computer.

Overall, we have discussed the major ways in which Aadhaar card misuse happens and how to prevent it. If you suspect your Aadhaar card has been misused, you should lock it and complain to UIDAI. Photocopies of Aadhaar cards should be attested with the reason for which they are being provided. Never use a public computer to access your Aadhaar biometrics.

Related Aadhaar Articles:
1. How To Check Aadhar PAN Card Link Status Online?
2. How to Lock Aadhaar Biometric Online?
3. PAN Aadhaar Link 
4. Aadhaar Card Pan Card Link Status
5. How to Check Aadhaar Card Link with Bank Account?
6. Aadhaar Card Customer Care Number
7. How To Scan Aadhaar Card Using QR Code?
8. Check Aadhaar Card Pan Card Link Status