PAN Card Fraud: How to Check and Report Misuse of PAN Card?

A PAN card is a very important document issued by the Government of India. The Income Tax Department uses it to identify a taxpayer and get insight into his financials. Thus, the tax details as well as the finances of a person can be tracked with the PAN card. Moreover, this card is also often used as proof of identity and date of birth.

However, lately, there has been a rise in misuse of PAN cards, where due to fraudulent activities, people have lost all their money or identity theft has occurred. So, to keep yourself safe from such scenarios and check and report PAN card fraud, keep reading this article.

What is PAN Card Fraud and Its Potential Consequences?

A PAN card fraud means that someone has used your PAN card for criminal activities. It can be used to impersonate you as well. In most of the worst-case scenarios, misuse of your PAN card has turned towards financial crime.

Examples of PAN Card Fraud Cases

Here are some examples of PAN card misuse:

• Someone could use your PAN to take loans. Then, the responsibility to repay the loans will fall upon you.
• A criminal can open a bank account with your PAN and use it for fraud. As your PAN card is used for the scam, ultimately, you will be the one coming under the radar.
• You could receive an SMS asking you to update your PAN. Such messages often contain a link which you have to tap. After you enter the required OTP, you could end up losing money.
• In a real-life example, cyber criminals once got credit cards issued in the name of celebrities by using their PAN details.
• Criminals can buy jewellery by using your PAN information.

PAN Card Misuse Complaint

Here are the steps you would need to follow to complain about PAN card fraud:

Step 1: Go to the official portal of the Tax Information Network.

Step 2: Move the cursor to the ‘Customer Care’ section in the top right corner.

Step 3: From the drop-down, select ‘Complaints/Queries’.

Step 4: Fill up the details in the complaint form, write your complaint, enter the captcha, and click on ‘Submit’.

How to Check Misuse of PAN Card?

Here’s how you can check if your PAN card has been misused;

Step 1: Visit a credit bureau website to check your credit score.

Step 2: Search for the option to check your credit score.

Step 3: Enter your data, including your financial information.

Step 4: Verify the OTP sent to your phone.

Step 5: Your credit score will be on the screen. It will give you an idea of whether your PAN has been misused or not.

Make sure to regularly review your financial statements to keep a check on your transactions. You should contact the bank if you see any suspicious transactions.

How to Avoid PAN Card Frauds?

Here are some ways in which you can avoid PAN card fraud:

• When you visit a website, check if the URL begins with ‘https’. The ‘s’ in ‘https’ stands for secure. It indicates that the site is encrypted. Thus, entering your PAN number on such a website should be safe.
• During the submission of PAN card photocopies, attest them along with the reason for submitting them.
• Don’t enter your full name and date of birth on suspicious websites.
• Regularly track your credit score.
• Check Form 26AS for transactions linked with your PAN card.

You should keep your PAN details safe and secure to protect yourself from fraud. Stay alert about the possibilities of PAN card fraud. We have covered how these scams are done and how to avoid them. You can also contact your bank or the Income Tax authorities if required. Taking all the necessary precautions for the safety of your PAN card.

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