alert! Is anyone else taking loan on your PAN card? Check like this in 1 minute, otherwise you will keep paying EMI of others

Imagine, you are sitting comfortably at your home and suddenly you get a call from the recovery agent from the bank – “Sir, the EMI of your loan has bounced!” You are shocked and worried… “Loan? I have not taken any loan at all!”

Yes, this scary dream has become the reality of thousands of Indians today. In this era of Digital India, cyber thieves have come up with a new and very dangerous method of fraud, which is called ‘Identity Theft’. In this, thieves take a loan using your PAN card and you are not even aware of it!

How does this whole ‘PAN card game’ happen?

Fraudsters work in a very clever way:

1. Steal your information: They steal information like your PAN number and date of birth from an unsafe website or app.
2. Create fake papers: With your PAN number, they create a fake Aadhaar card or deepfake photo of you with the help of AI.
3. Use of digital loan apps: Then using these fake documents, they take a loan in your name from digital lending apps (Fintech Apps) that provide loans within minutes.
   The entire process happens online, so it is very difficult to catch them.

How do you know if your identity has been stolen?

Often people come to know when it is too late. But you can find this out in time.

• The easiest way – Check your credit report: You can check your credit report for free by visiting websites like CIBIL, Experian, or Equifax.
• What to look for in the report: This report lists all the loans that are running on your PAN card. If you see any strange or unknown loan in this list, then understand that you have become a victim of this fraud.

3 surefire ways to avoid this ‘PAN card fraud’

Prevention is always better than cure. Adopt these 3 habits today to keep your identity safe:

1. Place a ‘chowkidar’ on the photocopy: Before giving the photocopy of your PAN card anywhere, write on it the current date and the purpose for which you are giving it (e.g. ‘For SIM card only’) and cross-sign it. Due to this, that copy will not be used anywhere else.
2. Don’t trust everyone: Never share your PAN number and other financial information on any unknown or unofficial website.
3. Stay alert: Keep SMS alerts on on your bank and credit score website. With this, you will know immediately as soon as someone applies for a loan in your name.

What to do if you have been cheated? (Take these steps immediately)

1. Call 1930: Without any delay, immediately register your complaint on the National Cyber ​​Crime Reporting Portal or by calling the helpline number 1930.
2. Inform the bank: Immediately send a written complaint to the bank or app from which the loan has been taken.
3. Tell the Income Tax Department: You can also lodge a complaint about misuse of PAN card by visiting the TIN-NSDL portal.

Remember, your vigilance is your biggest security shield in this digital world.