Pan Card Loan: Today, your PAN card is no longer just a tax document; it has become your financial identity. If someone misuses it to obtain a loan in your name, it can directly impact your CIBIL score. Let's understand how you can avoid such fraud.

Pan Card Loan: The most accurate way to determine how many active loans are on your PAN card is to check your credit report. Four major credit bureaus in India provide this information: CIBIL, Experian, Equifax, and CRIF High Mark.

From the Credit Bureau's Website

• Go to the website: Visit the official website of any one bureau (such as CIBIL or Experian).
• Login/Signup: Create an account by entering your basic details (name, email, and mobile number).
• PAN Verification: Enter your PAN card number.
• View the report: After logging in, go to the 'Loan Accounts' or 'Credit Facilities' section. Here, you'll see a list of all the loans and credit cards currently active against your PAN.

Through mobile apps

These days, almost all fintech and UPI apps (like Paytm, Google Pay, PhonePe, or PolicyBazaar) allow you to check your CIBIL score for free.

Go to the 'Credit Score' section of the app.

Click on 'All Loans' or 'Credit Insights'.

Check the list to see if you see any loans you never took.

The option is available in Google Pay.

What if you see a 'fake loan' in your report?

If you see a loan in your report that you didn't take, don't panic; instead, take these steps immediately:

Step 1: Report to the credit bureau: Visit the website of the bureau (CIBIL/Experian, etc.) whose report shows an error and fill out the 'Raise a Dispute' form. Inform them that the loan isn't yours. They will contact the bank and resolve it.

Step 2: Contact the bank: Email the customer service of the bank or NBFC (lender) whose name appears in your report and register your complaint. Ask them for a 'Closure Certificate' or the loan's cancellation.

Step 3: Report cybercrime: If the matter is serious and someone has intentionally stolen your identity, file an online complaint at (suspicious link removed) or file an FIR at the nearest police station.

Caution is the best defense.

• Regular checkup: Check your CIBIL score at least once every 3 months.
• Document sharing: Don't give photocopies of your PAN card or Aadhaar card to anyone. If you do, sign it and write the purpose (e.g., "Only for Sim Card Activation").
• Unknown links: Don't share your PAN details on any unknown links.