Government of India Issues Warning on PAN 2.0 Scam

 

 

India's new PAN 2.0 system, designed to improve taxpayer services, is being exploited by scammers. However, scammers are now targeting individuals with fraudulent schemes around new PAN Cards. Fake emails, purportedly from the Income Tax Department, are circulating, offering e-PAN card downloads. 

 

The Government of India has issued a public alert regarding a sophisticated scam targeting taxpayers under the guise of a "PAN 2.0 upgrade." The scam involves fraudulent messages, emails, or websites claiming to offer an "upgrade" to PAN (Permanent Account Number) cards, which are essential for financial transactions and tax-related activities in India. Victims are lured with promises of faster processing, added benefits, or compliance with "new government regulations."

Typically, scammers direct individuals to fake websites resembling official government portals or send phishing emails containing malicious links. Upon clicking, users are asked to provide personal details, including their PAN, Aadhaar, bank account numbers, and OTPs, which are then exploited for identity theft and financial fraud.

In response, the PIB Fact Check has flagged these emails as fraudulent and warns against sharing personal information.The Income Tax Department and other government agencies have urged citizens to remain vigilant. Key warnings include:

• Avoid clicking on unsolicited links or responding to messages promising PAN upgrades.
• Official PAN-related services are only provided through authorized platforms like NSDL or UTIITSL.
• Verify any communication by contacting the Income Tax Department's official helpline.
• The government is also working with cybersecurity experts to trace and shut down fraudulent websites. Public awareness campaigns are being launched to educate citizens about recognizing and avoiding such scams.

The Government of India recently unveiled the PAN 2.0 initiative, a significant upgrade to the Permanent Account Number system. This initiative aims to enhance taxpayer experience through several key features such as — enhanced data security, QR code integration, unified portal and more. However, the PIB Fact Check has confirmed the email claiming to offer a step-by-step guide to download e-PAN cards is entirely fake and should be disregarded.