PAN Card SPAM - Save Yourself From PAN Card Scam and Fraud Online

Frauds involving PAN cards have been on the rise as people all over the country have been falling victim. This is due to fraudsters who take and use other people’s PAN card details for fraudulent purposes landing innocent persons in both legal and financial woes.

Latest Pan Card Scam Incident

In a recent case, A student from Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh named Pramod Kumar Dandotiya got a notice from the Income Tax Department and GST when he came to know that a company had been registered in his name and was doing business in Mumbai and Delhi. The other scary figure disclosed was a disproportionate bank receipt of Rs 46 crore through a PAN details-associated account. Now even though I have reported this to the police and the tax department I have yet to get a response, this shows how risky PAN misuse can be.

Many Indian citizens have been harmed by PAN card misuse, even celebrities like the actor Rajkummar Rao had a PAN card used to secure a loan in his name in 2022. In another case, Panvel-based actress Nagma Morarji was duped to the tune of one lakh rupees in a PAN-related phishing scam. Such cases point to the fact that PAN fraud is rampant and becomes even more common during tax seasons, as other types of fraud do.

What Is A Pan Card Scam?

A PAN card scam means that fraudsters use your PAN details for fraudulent purposes. This can range from financial fraud such as money laundering or identity theft to defrauding you by taking loans in your name and holding you responsible for the workings of those crimes.

Read more: PAN Card

Pan Card Misuse

Some common ways your PAN card can be misused include:

• Loan Fraud: Fraudsters can also apply for credit in your name and use your credit card to make purchases which you have to repay.

• Bank Account Fraud: For example, a criminal with your PAN could easily engage in identity theft and slip into the new account to make any transactions he or she wanted.

• Phishing Attacks: Failure to recognise that these are fake links may cause them to update PAN details and scammers may capture the information.

• High-Value Purchases: A lot of jewellery and other costly items can be bought using your PAN details by fraudsters.

• Credit Card Scams: Others get you a credit card on your recognition which places you for potential credit under your identity.

How To File A Complaint About Pan Card Scams?

If you suspect PAN misuse, here’s how you can report it:

Step 1: Go to the official website of TIN NSDL.

Step 2: Go to ‘Customer Care’, and select “Complaints/Queries” in the top right corner of the home page.

Step 3: The next steps are entering your details, a description of the problem, filling in a captcha control and submitting a form.

Step 4: In case, it is required to document the event and also for legal protection, go and file a police complaint.

Read more: WhatsApp scam

How To Check If Your Pan Card Has Been Misused?

You can verify potential misuse of your PAN by checking your credit score:

• Visit a Credit Bureau’s Website: Choose the option that allows you to verify your credit score.

• Enter Your Details: Supplemental Information Uploaded Necessary FINANCIAL and/or IDENTIFICATION Information.

• Verify with OTP: A one-time password will be sent to the phone number which is registered with the portal.

• Review Your Credit Score: If there are very low balances at some point, or very high balances due to some loans on your report, the chance may be high that fraud has taken place.

Also read: Fake food order scam

What To Do If One Lost His/Her Pan Card?

If your PAN card is lost or stolen, take these steps:

• File a Police Complaint: Take the lost property to the nearest police station to file a complaint in order to create a report.

• Notify the Income Tax Department: Call or write them to express the regret of the loss.

• Apply for a Duplicate PAN Card: It is fast and convenient to apply through the online application process to get the replacement easily.

Also read: Sim Swapping scam

Tips To Avoid PAN Card Frauds

To protect yourself from such fraudulent activities, it is important to follow some safety tips.

• Use Secure Websites: Always make sure that the URL of the website has ‘https’ before you input PAN details.

• Limit PAN Card Copies: When a photocopy is submitted, include an attestation note which should state the reason for the submission.

• Avoid Suspicious Websites: Do not enter personal information on shady sites.

• Monitor Your Credit Score: An assessment can be made that checking the insured persons more often will allow them to notice the fraud.

• Review Form 26AS: Transact carefully with activities related to your PAN.

Conclusion

Penalty for misuse of PAN cards extends up to financial and legal consequences. You therefore shield yourself from fraud by ‘watching your back’ and this can be done through frequently monitoring your credit, as well as immediately reporting any oddities that you come across. If you feel your account has been maliciously used, respond instantly and report the abuse to the relevant agencies.

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