Aadhaar card, 12-digit Government of India unique identification number, is an access and verification card for security. Aadhaar has brought never-before convenience with transparency, but Aadhaar is horrors if it gets into the wrong hands.
For everyone who wants to know his/her Aadhaar details, read ahead and find out how an Aadhaar card is misused by a person and how one can avoid his/her own information from being misused. It will also uncover what are issues with it such as de-linking from websites online like DigiLocker for security reasons.
Aadhaar Card Abuse: How to Prevent
Now let us determine how can someone misuse my aadhar card, before deciding countermeasures. Beyond security features, Aadhaar information is capable of being used for criminal activities if obtained by an unauthorized individual.
1. Identity Theft
The hardest type of abuse of your Aadhaar card.
It is utilized for identity fraud. Your Aadhaar information will be used by the scammers to impersonate you, create bank accounts, obtain loans, accept credit cards issued to them, or even set up illegal business activities under your name. You won’t even realize this until your reputation or finance suffers greatly.
2. Illegal Bank Transactions
Your Aadhaar number can be linked to your bank account for the payment of the subsidy, among other things. Your accessed or hacked Aadhaar information by fraudsters or hackers can be used to reach your financial information, carry out illicit transactions, or obtain benefits for you.
3. SIM Card Fraud
The telecom operators are going to associate mobile SIMs with Aadhaar numbers. If he can reach so far with his hands to get Aadhaar details, then he can clone SIMs on your name. He can then lift crucial OTPs, thereby hacking your bank accounts.
4. Misuse of Biometric Information
Biometric data such as iris scan and fingerprints come into play largely in Aadhaar verification. If it is possible for criminals to obtain or imitate your biometric data, then copies of identification verifications will be created for them, and that is perilous.
5. Misuse of Subsidy or Loan
Your Aadhaar information is misused by cyber hackers to avail loans, government schemes, or welfare schemes benefits. You might unknowingly become responsible or even lose benefits.
6. Copying Duplicate Aadhaar Card
Spammers can trick by duplicating Aadhaar card updates on the basis of which they can create duplicate documents. Duplicate Aadhaar cards once more can be utilized for unlawful operations or benefits collection by the genuine users.
How to Be Safe: How to Protect Your Aadhaar Information
Now that we already know how to misuse an Aadhaar card, let us now learn how to make it secure so that it will not fall into unwanted hands. Secure your Aadhaar information by following the following steps:
1. Never Share Your Aadhaar Number
Don’t make your Aadhaar number as public to the world as a safe piece of money info, i.e., a PIN number. Don’t pass it on to any unofficial or unauthorized organization or site at any cost whatsoever, more so on social networking sites or public areas.
2. Keep Your Aadhaar Number Secret
When uploading your Aadhaar card as documents, upload a scanned card in the first eight digits of Aadhaar number hidden mode. UIDAI has even incorporated this feature so that users are not subjected to identity theft. Your Aadhaar number will only be visible in the hidden mode with the last four digits so that it is not misused.
3. Check Linked Accounts from Time to Time
Check your Aadhaar activity every time through UIDAI portal or mAadhaar app. Check any suspicious transaction on all accounts, subsidies, and services against your Aadhaar number.
4. Lock Your Aadhaar Number
Your Aadhaar number can be locked or unlocked through UIDAI. Lock it, if Aadhaar is not utilized for day-to-day transactions. Your Aadhaar number cannot be used or verified after locking, until locking is disabled.
5. Enable Virtual ID (VID)
UIDAI allows users to generate a 16-digit Virtual ID (VID) that can be used for authentication in place of your Aadhaar number. A VID can be regenerated as often as you’d like. This feature adds an extra layer of security to your Aadhaar data.
6. Protect Biometric Data
Your biometric information is the most intimate aspect of Aadhaar verification. Use caution while swiping your fingerprint or iris scan-based identity in a public place. Monitor usage at regular intervals and even lock your biometric information via the UIDAI web site when idle.
7. Protect Yourself against Frauds
Be cautious while responding to calls, messages, or mails for your Aadhaar information. These are fake attempts by fraudsters who aim to get your Aadhaar information. Verify the person’s identity before giving out sensitive information.
How to Delete Your DigiLocker Account for Better Security
For already existing users who have already established a connection of their Aadhaar card to other websites such as DigiLocker but now wish to delink for additional precautionary reasons, the latter half of this article is also a step-by-step procedure on how to cancel a DigiLocker account. Many people also search for how to delete DigiLocker account safely to ensure their Aadhaar-linked documents are not exposed online.
Why Delete a DigiLocker Account
DigiLocker is online document storage. Aadhaar and personal documents cannot be owned by someone to store them in online storage because they can be hacked. Closing the DigiLocker account might be a precautionary measure to make threats ineffective.
Step by Step Guide to Closing a DigiLocker Account:
1. Login to DigiLocker
Go to the website or mobile app of DigiLocker and login with your security details.
2. Go to Support Section
Search for the “Help” or “Contact Us” link in the event of account management issues.
3. Delete Request
Compose a formal mail or support form that you wish to delete your DigiLocker account. Put down your registered email ID and mobile number for verification.
4. Follow Up for Verification
Once your deletion request gets processed, DigiLocker would have to inform you via SMS or email that deletion was successful. De-link all such connected documents and accounts in advance so that you won’t be able to access crucial documents.
Suspension or deletion of your DigiLocker account would prevent the hacker from abusing your Aadhaar-linked documents in cloud space again.
What to Do if Your Aadhaar Card is Misused
If already your Aadhaar details are being misused, then the harm can be reduced by acting at the earliest.
1. Report UIDAI Immediately
The instant you suspect, report it to UIDAI either by calling on their helpline number or grievance portal. Furnish them with some supporting documents so that they could trace the misuse.
2. File an FIR
If your Aadhaar has also been used to commit some other type of fraud like opening of dummy bank accounts or availing of loans, report the same by making a trip to the nearest police station and filing a First Information Report (FIR) with the intent to seek legal redress.
3. Bank Account and Credit Monitoring
Verify all your Aadhaar-based bank accounts for any suspicious transactions. Promptly report the bank and ask them to freeze the suspect transaction. Even screening your credit report at regular intervals is recommended in order to remain vigilant about any unauthorized loan application.
Conclusion
Your Aadhaar card is not made of paper—it’s the door key to the happiness of a virtuous individual, the government, and money. While it gives the giant convenience in enjoying amenities, authority over being exploited can never be lost. You can protect yourself from impostors if you know how some other person is going to use your Aadhaar card and take measures such as biometric locking, hiding your Aadhaar number, and shutting unwanted accounts like DigiLocker.
Take your Aadhaar transactions with you, utilize the security aspects of UIDAI properly, and do not provide your Aadhaar details to unauthorized individuals. Caution and prudence are the best security measure for your identity on the internet.