The authorities in India have been recording various instances of fraudulent activities in which a Permanent Account Number, aka PAN card, is used as bait to steal people’s sensitive information for personal gain. As recorded by various credible sources, including the Income Tax Department and the ICICI Bank, people have recently been receiving emails with taglines such as ‘Download your PAN 2.0’ or ‘Upgrade your e-PAN today’. If they respond, fraudsters attempt to steal their personal information.
Read the article to learn more about PAN 2.0, the recent scams, and the ways to stay safe against them.
What Is PAN 2.0?
The government has introduced certain changes and updates in the existing PAN card services to improve their functioning for both the authorities and the people of India. Some of the major changes under PAN 2.0 are a single platform for PAN and TAN (Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number), QR codes, quick e-PAN generation, and a fully digitised process.
However, many people are not aware of the PAN 2.0 project, which is essentially being exploited by scammers.
How Does The PAN 2.0 Scam Work?
The PAN 2.0 scams usually operate through email. Fraudsters concoct a fake email with subject lines like ‘Download your PAN 2.0’ or ‘Upgrade your e-PAN today’ to avoid deactivation or legal penalties. With such attractive and threatening emails, scammers aim to play with people’s lack of information and fear. Those who click on the link in the emails are redirected to fake websites that look like the original government websites and are then asked to fill in some personal details like name, DOB, OTPs, and other KYC-related information.
Read More: PAN Card SPAM
How To Protect Oneself From PAN 2.0 Scams?
There are several ways through which one can protect themselves from such PAN 2.0 scams, such as:
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Please do not click on any suspicious links or download attachments that come with emails with subject lines like ‘Download your PAN 2.0’ or ‘Upgrade your e-PAN today’.
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Visit the official websites of NSDL or UTIITSL to complete any or all PAN-related services like downloading, correcting, or updating.
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If unsure about anything, contact the legitimate authorities immediately and confirm.
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Please ensure that your PAN card is linked and verified through official portals.
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If you fall victim to any fraudulent activity, please report it to the authorities immediately so that the fraudsters can be caught and your assets can remain safe.
Conclusion
Every citizen of the country must stay aware and safe against PAN 2.0 scams and protect their sensitive information from getting into the hands of the wrong people. We request you to stay educated, as that is the best measure to avoid and tackle such scammers.
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