Individual charged thirty thousand by bank! Protect your Aadhaar card from misuse. Here’s How?

A recent incident involving an individual's bank account has raised significant concerns. Over the course of three days, their account was fraudulently charged 30 thousand rupees. Of particular worry was the fact that the bank failed to send SMS notifications for two of these transactions, with only one notification arriving after a couple of days. Faced with this alarming situation, they took swift action by blocking access to their e-banking, fully aware that resolving the issue could be a complex process.

The surge in cybercrime has become an ever-present threat, and this incident served as a stark reminder of its pervasive impact. The transaction records pointed to unauthorized withdrawals through the AEPS (Aadhaar enabled payment system), suggesting that someone had potentially accessed and misused their Aadhaar details for these illicit transactions. In light of this experience, they felt compelled to caution others against sharing their Aadhaar card copies, even when dealing with hotels or other establishments.

In response to this unfortunate situation, they outlined a two-step plan of action. Firstly, they intended to visit the cybercrime department to formally file a complaint regarding the fraudulent transactions. Secondly, they planned to visit their local bank branch to seek guidance and clarity on the subsequent steps necessary to resolve this issue.

It's important for people to safeguard their Aadhaar information to prevent identity theft and fraud. Here's a summary of the key points you mentioned:

1. Download Masked Aadhaar:

• To prevent misuse when submitting Aadhaar photocopies, you can share a masked Aadhaar card.

• The first eight digits of your Aadhaar number are masked, and you can download this version.

• Steps to download masked Aadhaar: a. Visit the UIDAI website or use the mAadhaar app. b. Enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number and Captcha code. c. Request an OTP (One-Time Password) and choose the option for a masked Aadhaar. d. Enter the OTP received on your registered mobile number. e. Verify and download the masked Aadhaar through the app.

2. Lock Your Biometrics:

• You can lock your Aadhaar biometrics to disable authentication using your fingerprint and iris data.

• This feature helps prevent potential Aadhaar card fraud.

• Steps to lock/unlock biometrics: a. Visit the UIDAI website and select 'Lock/Unlock Biometrics.' b. Provide your Aadhaar number or VID (Virtual ID), Captcha code, and request an OTP. c. Enter the OTP received on your registered mobile number.

• Note: To use this feature, you need to have a valid Aadhaar and a registered mobile number. You can unlock your Aadhaar biometrics following the same steps.

Protecting Aadhaar information is crucial to maintaining the security and privacy of individuals in India, and these features provided by UIDAI can help in achieving that goal.