Aadhaar-PAN data is being sold for Rs 500, know the ways to protect it

Nowadays every Indian has Aadhar and PAN card. This is our identity. From opening a bank account to taking a loan, everything depends on them. But a shocking truth is that your Aadhaar number, name, address, photo, phone number and PAN details are sold on the dark web for just Rs 500. This is not a film story, but a reality that comes to the fore again and again.

Dark web is that dark part of the internet where search is not possible through Google or Chrome. Here hackers buy and sell stolen data. Any ordinary person can get his work done by contacting the agent on WhatsApp or Telegram.

In 2018, Tribune newspaper had revealed that by paying Rs 500, anyone’s complete Aadhaar data can be extracted. The agent gives the user ID-password and you can see the name, address, photo by visiting the UIDAI website. A fake card can also be printed for a little more money.

UIDAI denied this, but also filed a case against the reporter. Now let’s talk about the big leak. In 2023, data of 81.5 crore Indians was sold on the dark web for just 80 thousand dollars (about Rs 67 lakh). That means, in terms of per capita money, not even a few pennies.

Data was sold for Rs 2.5 lakh
In 2024, mobile numbers, home addresses and Aadhaar data of 75 crore people will be sold for just Rs 2.5 lakh. This data is leaked from government sites like CoWin, ICMR, banks, telecom companies and online apps.

Many times internal employees take money and sell the data. In phishing attacks, people share OTP or details themselves. When data is leaked the danger is huge. Anyone can take a loan in your name, empty your bank account or commit fraud by creating fake documents. Identity gets stolen and the problem lasts for years.

The government says that Aadhaar is secure and biometric data is not leaked. But every year new leaks keep coming to light. A new data protection law has been made, but the strictness seems to be less. So what should we do?

1. Never click on unknown links.
2. Do not share OTP with anyone.
3. Use strong passwords.
4. Check your data by visiting UIDAI website regularly.
5. If in doubt, file a complaint on the cyber crime portal.
6. Make friends and family also aware.

It is our responsibility to be alert in digital India. Your entire life can be sold for Rs 500, so it is important to be careful from today itself.