Technical News Office – India is currently going through the digital age. From ordering groceries to updating important documents like Aadhaar and PAN, every service is now available online. This is why scammers find new ways to cheat. Today, a new fraud has emerged: it happened to a user while he was applying for a PAN card online. An elderly resident of Kanpur was applying online for a PAN card for his great-grandson and meanwhile, fraudsters cheated him of Rs 7.7 lakh.
The fraud took place when the victim, Suresh Chandra Sharma, resident of Navsheel Moti Vihar, Sarvodaya Nagar, was trying to apply for a PAN card for his great-grandson Kanishk Pandey, who lives in the UAE. Sharma called a helpline number to apply for PAN on November 10. During this time he was deceived. Under the pretext of finalizing the application process, the fraudsters asked for their Aadhaar card, PAN card and bank details and cheated them. By making two fake transactions, he withdrew Rs 1,40,071 and Rs 6,30,071, resulting in a total loss of Rs 7.7 lakh. The old man realized the fraud when the money was deducted from his account.
Know these 4 things to avoid online fraud
Take these steps to avoid online fraud:
Always check the authenticity of the website or customer service number. Use official government portals like NSDL or UTIITSL for PAN card related services.
Do not share sensitive information like Aadhaar or PAN card details and banking credentials with anyone or platform.
Be wary of unsolicited calls or messages pretending to be customer support.
If in doubt or if you are a victim of fraud, report it to the police or the cybercrime reporting portal – cybercrime.gov.in.
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