PAN Card Scam: Check How to Check Misuse of PAN Card and How to Report it

A PAN card is an essential document issued by the government of India. This document is used by the Income Tax Department to recognise a taxpayer and receive recognition in their financials. Therefore, details of tax, in addition to the finances of a person, can be tracked using the PAN card. Along with this, a PAN card is used as proof of birth and identity.

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.

Some Recent PAN Card Frauds:

20 Year Student Receives 35 Crore Notice from Income Tax Dept

A college student, TMG Shaikh from Malad (West), 20 years old, has recently received a notice from the Income Tax Department for the transactions done to her account of around 35 crores over the past eight months. After conducting an investigation, two men have been arrested for fraudulently using his documents and opening fake accounts in her name. The student claims the notice as fraudulent.

Tempo Driver Received Tax Notice Worth Rs. 31.67 crore

The Income Tax Department has issued a tax notice of Rs. 31.67 crore to a tempo driver in Bhiwani, Haryana. As per the notice, the driver had taken a GST number but didn’t pay any GST, even though there were transactions of over Rs. 31 crore in his bank account within a year. However, the driver, Raj Singh, said that he never went to the GST office. He claims His account was opened fraudulently in Delhi. He has purchased his tempo by taking a loan. He earns between Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 per day, and it is impossible to make many transactions with this small amount.

Gujarat Tea Stall Laborer Shocked After Being Presented With Rs. 115 Crore Income Tax Notice

A tea stall labourer had allegedly been given an income tax notice demanding no less than a whopping Rs. 115 crore. The labourer, who has been working at a hotel in Gir Somnath district for the last 25 years, receives a meagre monthly pay of Rs. 10,000.

There are many such cases and things have got out of hand when we see ChatGPT is Generating Photorealistic Fake Aadhar and Pan Card.

https://x.com/yaswanthtweet/status/1908043043715842276

What is PAN Card Fraud and Why is it Serious?

• PAN card fraud happens when someone uses your PAN card details for illegal purposes. This could mean pretending to be you or using your PAN for financial scams. In many cases, it leads to crimes involving money.

Examples of PAN Card Misuse

Here are some examples related to PAN card misuse:

• Taking loans in your name: Someone can take a loan using your PAN, and you will be responsible for paying it back.
• Opening bank accounts: A scammer can open a bank account using your PAN and commit fraud. Since your PAN is linked, you may get into trouble.
• Fake SMS links: You might get a message asking you to update your PAN. If you click the link and enter an OTP, your money can be stolen.
• Real cases: Criminals have used PAN details of celebrities to get credit cards.
• Buying expensive items: Thieves may use your PAN to buy things like gold or jewellery.

Taking a GST Number in your name

Scamsters may also take GSTN in your name and you the same to pass fake Input Tax Credit. Ultimately, you will get a GST notice from the department for non-payment of GST.

How to Complain About PAN Card Misuse

If you think someone has misused your PAN card, follow these steps:

• Go to the official Tax Information Network website.
• Click on ‘Customer Care’ at the top-right corner.
• Select ‘Complaints/Queries’ from the list.
• Fill out the complaint form, describe the issue, enter the captcha, and click ‘Submit’.

How to Check if Your PAN is Being Misused

• Visit any credit bureau website (like CIBIL).
• Find the option to check your credit score.
• Fill in your personal and financial details.
• Enter the OTP you get on your phone.
• Your credit score will show. If it looks unusual, your PAN might be misused.
• Also, check your bank statements often. If you see anything odd, contact your bank right away.

How to Avoid PAN Card Frauds

• Always check that the website URL starts with ‘https’. The ‘s’ means the site is safe.
• When giving a copy of your PAN card, write the purpose on it and sign it.
• Don’t share your full name and birth date on unknown websites.
• Regularly check your credit score.
• Review Form 26AS to see all transactions linked to your PAN.

Final Tip

Keep your PAN details private and stay alert. If something feels wrong, contact your bank or the Income Tax department. Taking small steps can protect you from big troubles.