We are living in an age of scams that were unheard of but have now became a major part of our lives. Among these is the growing number of cases involving the misuse of documents while applying for Aadhaar cards on one hand, and the exploitation of Aadhaar cards by unscrupulous elements to facilitate all sorts of crimes on the other.
Recently, citizens in South Goa alleged that fraudulent practices, including the submission of fake addresses and misrepresentation of residential details, are being used particularly by migrants to obtain Aadhaar cards. Locals in some sections of the district alleged that their own house numbers and postal addresses were being used without their knowledge or consent. They recounted several instances where tenants and migrants have submitted applications for Aadhaar cards by listing residential addresses of others as their own despite not having even lived at the addresses concerned at all.
The Aadhaar card is essential if one must avail of essential services, which is the reason why many who do not have the document resort to crooked and underhanded ways to apply for it quickly. Citizens, however, fear that rampant misuse of addresses and false representations made before the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) may not only land the applicants of Aadhaar cards in hot water but may have also severe legal implications for them despite these wrongdoings having been committed unbeknownst to them. They have, therefore, being calling for stricter verification processes during the Aadhaar application process by way of UIDAI tying up with local panchayats and municipalities or even conducting independent physical verifications with property owners to ascertain that the addresses furnished in applications are indeed where the applicants concerned reside.
On the flip side, many citizens are accustomed to freely handing out copies of their Aadhaar cards to various establishments and services providers, without even realising that they can be grossly misused just like any other photocopy of IDs such as passports and driving licenses. Aadhaar cards are misused for various forms of fraud such as identity theft and access to financial accounts. It doesn't directly involve the withdrawal of money but information on the card – such as name, date of birth and address - can be used to open fake accounts and apply for loans without the knowledge of the cardholder. Aadhaar doesn't have a PIN or a magnetic strip, like debit and credit cards do, so it’s harder to protect the cardholder against misuse when he/she shares a photocopy.
If you suspect that your Aadhaar card has been misused, report it to the UIDAI through their official website or by calling the toll-free number, 1947. If you suspect criminal activity, it would be best to contact the cybercrime cell for assistance. It is also essential that you lock your Aadhaar biometrics on the UIDAI website or through the mAadhaar app so that authentication using your fingerprints is disallowed.
Should you absolutely need to share a photocopy of your Aadhaar card, use a masked version, in which the first eight digits of your Aadhaar number are hidden. Ensure the photocopy is attested with the reason for its use. Be careful to never use a public computer to access your Aadhaar biometrics or any other sensitive information too.
While these are the steps every citizen should take, it is binding on the government, both at the state and Centre, that solid measures are put in place to not only stop such rampant misuse of Aadhaar cards but also severely punish those involved in such crimes. Identity theft is no joke, particularly given the fast-paced world we live in, where money and sensitive information can be swiped away before one can even blink. If laxity in conducting verification during the Aadhaar application process and nonchalance when the ID is fraudulently submitted for obtaining loans etc, continues, the government and law enforcement agencies will be swamped with cases that could have so easily been avoided had stricter measures been envisaged and implemented. A universal ID must have universal
security.