Do you know that the comfort and convenience of digitalization come with a cost of Fraud? Fraudsters are using illegal means to steal identity proof of others like PAN cards. That’s why, it becomes crucial to protect your sensitive data and be aware of online security.
In this blog, we’ll learn how criminals can misuse PAN Cards to commit fraud, the importance of verifying PAN Cards, and the various methods available for effective verification. By understanding these aspects, you can better protect your sensitive data and safeguard yourself from identity theft.
How Fraudsters Can Use Your PAN Card?
A PAN Card is an important piece of identity verification that includes details such as Name, Date of Birth, photograph, and signature. However, its sensitivity makes it a target for misuse by fraudsters in various ways:
Credit Applications: Fraudsters can use a stolen PAN Card to apply for credit cards and loans, leaving the legitimate cardholder with debts and a damaged credit history.
Bank Accounts: Usixng a victim’s PAN Card, fraudsters can open bank accounts and carry out unauthorized transactions, which can affect the real PAN cardholder’s financial standing.
Criminal Activities: With stolen identity details, offenders can commit various illegal acts, tarnishing the reputation of both the cardholder and organizations.
Hotel Check-Ins: Scammers might use a stolen PAN Card to check into hotels, which can lead to illegal activities being associated with the innocent cardholder’s identity.
To safeguard against these risks, it is essential to secure your PAN Card and avoid sharing sensitive personal information. Regular monitoring and verification can also help detect and prevent misuse.
Using CIBIL and Credit Scores to Identify PAN Card Misuse.
Tracking your CIBIL Score and Credit Score is one of the easy methods you can incorporate to track a record of financial activity. Because it will help find the unauthorized loans taken in your name.
You can check CIBIL scores on websites like Equifax, CIBIL, CRIF Highmark, etc. After selecting the website, where you want to check the Cibil score follow these steps.
- Visit any CIBIL Score check or Credit report check website.
- Find the Check Your Credit Score section.
- Enter required details like DOB, Name, Email ID, PAN number, and Mobile Number.
- You will receive an OTP for verification.
Credit score checks help in detecting misuse of PAN cards. So, regularly check your Credit report and credit score. Report immediately if you find anything suspicious.
PAN Verification Methods
After knowing the impact of misuse of PAN cards and identity theft, you will get an idea of how important is to verify the PAN Card. Here are the methods you can opt to verify the PAN card easily.
Through The NSDL e-Gov Website: You can verify the PAN authenticity of your PAN card and details on the NSDL website. It will provide the essential information of PAN card holders and checking the person is the same as it claims or not.
- Visit the NSDL official website.
- Find the PAN Verification section on the website
- Input the PAN card number and other information.
- After entering the details click on Submit to proceed to verification.
- Now review the result to confirm the PAN Card validity.
Through APIs: Businesses and individuals can use PAN Verification API to automatically check the PAN Card details against the authentic NSDL databases. Burt before using an API, you need to buy it from a trusted API service provider. After that follow the given steps
- Integrate PAN Verification API into your system.
- Enter the PAN Card Number in the API.
- API will automatically check the authentic PAN database and find details related to the input details.
- API will respond if it finds the details if it doesn’t find the details related to the number. It will display an invalid status.
- If it finds a PAN card associated with it will provide details like full name, dob, father’s name, signature, etc.
These details help in the accurate verification of the PAN Card.
Through Mobile Apps: Mobile Applications are the best and easiest to use PAN Verification tool anytime.
- Download the PAN Verification App on your mobile phone
- After downloading and installing it on your phone
- Sign in to the App
- Find the PAN verification feature, it may be present under the category and section.
- Enter the required PAN Card details such as PAN number, full name, Date of birth etc.
- Tap on the verify PAN card and wait until the app provides verification results.
After getting the information displayed by the app review and compare the details for authentic verification. Using a mobile app to check the legitimacy of a PAN card is convenient and easy.
Benefits of PAN Card Verification
Here are some key benefits of PAN Card verification
- Prevent Identity Theft: PAN Card verification helps to confirm the PAN Card belongs to the legitimate and right owner. It helps detect identity theft.
- Avoid Legal Penalties: If an organization fails to verify PAN Cards, it can face fines and legal issues by authorities. Pan verification helps detect fraud that can damage a business’s reputation and avoid legal penalties.
A fake PAN Card or misuse of a PAN Card can lead to serious damage to the reputation of the business. Which can be prevented with simple precautions and the use of tools.
How to Report PAN Card Misuse?
Apart from learning the ways of preventing and protecting PAN cards from stealing and misuse, it is also important to know the reporting. Here are the steps you can follow to report the misuse of your PAN Card.
- Visit the NSDL official website.
- Now locate the customer care section on the home page.
- Click on the complaint form.
- Enter the required details describe the complaint and submit the form.
Reporting will help you protect against the further misuse of your PAN card and apply for a new PAN Card.
Conclusion
We are living in the digital world, where convenience and technology are making the daily task simpler. But fraudsters are using digital means to steal someone else other identity. The misuse of PAN Cards is an example of identity theft. They are using other PAN Cards to commit crimes that causing problems for real PAN Card holders and organizations.
To protect against such threats, individuals and businesses need to use good PAN Verification measures. Regular credit report monitoring is good for tracking the misuse of PAN cards. It helps in detecting unauthorised loans. Businesses and individuals should use PAN verification tools like PAN Verification API, NSDL website, and Mobile Apps.
By confirming the PAN Card Details with accuracy businesses can eliminate potential fraud and financial losses.
