Mumbai: A college student living in Malad West, Mumbai, was shocked when she received a notice from the Income Tax Department. The notice said she had to pay GST on transactions worth Rs 35 crore.
She Went to Police
The girl panicked because she never had so much money and rushed to the Malvani police station. She told the police she is just a simple student and doesn't know anything about the money.
What the Police Found
The police found that cyber fraudsters had used the girl’s identity documents to open a fake bank account in her name. They were using this account to store money from online scams.
Accused Caught
Police arrested two men — Abhishek Pandey and Akash Vishwakarma — from Kandivali and Borivali. These men tricked unemployed youth by offering fake jobs and collected their PAN, Aadhaar, etc. to open fake accounts. 10–12 such accounts were found.
How to Keep Your Documents Safe
Don’t share documents easily: Never share Aadhaar or PAN on unknown websites, WhatsApp, or without checking the purpose.
Write “Only for…” on copies: Mention the purpose, date, and your signature on any document copy.
Lock your Aadhaar: Use UIDAI website or mAadhaar app to lock/unlock your Aadhaar number.
Monitor your credit score: Regularly check on CIBIL or Experian to spot fake loans or cards in your name.
Check PAN-linked details: Visit the Income Tax website to see if your PAN is linked with unknown accounts.
Report Cybercrime: If you suspect misuse, file a report at cybercrime.gov.in and also go to your nearest police station.
Use secure apps: Use government apps like DigiLocker or Aadhaar Vault to store and share documents safely.
