PAN Card Fraud Is Increasing To find out who might be using your PAN, check your credit report.

Scammers are increasingly using someone else's PAN card to obtain loans or issue credit cards. Not just celebrities are victims of identity theft; regular folks are also seeing unidentified loans or credit inquiries appear under their names. When they look at their credit report, many victims discover that something is amiss.  

Reasons to Examine Your Credit Report

• All of the loans and credits associated with your PAN are displayed in your report.

• It may indicate that your PAN is being abused if you find accounts that you did not open.

• You can obtain comprehensive reports from credit bureaus such as CIBIL, Experian, Equifax, or CRIF.

Examples of Real-Life Fraud

• In certain instances, PANs and Aadhaar were used to create fictitious identities in order to obtain huge loans.

• Some scammers even applied for credit cards using the PAN information of famous people.

• The victims believed the PAN misuse was evident when they looked at their credit records and discovered unapproved loans. 

What You Should Do If You Suspect Fraud

• Obtain your credit record from a bureau and look for any unfamiliar loans or accounts.

• For any fake entries, file a dispute with the credit bureau.

• If an account on your report doesn't belong to you, let your bank or lender know.

• Report the abuse to the Income Tax Department and file a police report.

• Check if any illegal GST registration has been made using your PAN by using the GST portal. If necessary, make a complaint.

How to Keep Your PAN Safe

• Sharing your PAN number should only be done with verified and reliable organizations.

• Don't enter all of your PAN information on unreliable websites.

• Keep a close eye on your credit score; early detection of abuse can save you a great deal of problems.