PratyashaLast updated: October 14, 2026
When people think about identity theft, they often imagine money disappearing from a bank account. But misuse of personal information can begin much earlier, with details that have been exposed, copied or shared beyond the purpose for which they were collected.
PAN and Aadhaar are part of everyday financial life in India. They help establish identity, support KYC checks and are used in financial transactions. If the details fall into the wrong hands, they may be used in attempts to obtain credit or open accounts in someone else’s name.
The first sign may be a recovery call about a loan you never took, or an unfamiliar account or lender enquiry on your credit report. At that point, you are not just trying to understand what happened. You may also have to dispute records and protect your credit history.
The better approach is to look for warning signs before there is a financial consequence. That means understanding what each check can tell you, and what it cannot.
Mitigata is an IRDAI-licensed, AI-native cyber resilience company serving more than 800 businesses across cybersecurity, compliance, cyber insurance and incident response. Through the Mitigata app, we bring the same thinking to individuals and families, helping them find exposed personal information and act on it before it turns into fraud.
How personal information gets exposed
There is rarely one route through which personal information reaches a fraudster. A data breach at a service provider, careless handling of physical documents, a phishing message or misuse by someone with access to paperwork can each create an opening.
- Data breaches. Shopping platforms, fintech apps and other service providers hold customer information. If systems are compromised or security controls are inadequate, personal details may be exposed.
- Documents that travel too far. A photocopy submitted for a bank account, SIM card, hotel booking or car rental may be left unsecured or discarded without being properly destroyed.
- Phishing and impersonation. Fake loan websites, emails and SMS links can imitate legitimate services and persuade people to share personal details or OTPs.
- Misuse by intermediaries. Documents shared for a genuine application may be reused without permission by someone who has access to them.
You cannot control every organisation that holds your information. You can reduce avoidable exposure by sharing documents only when necessary, using verified channels and marking physical copies with the institution, purpose and date. For example: “Submitted only for [purpose] at [institution] on [date].”
Want to know if your details are already out there?
The Mitigata app runs a 60-second identity scan across 3,800+ sources.
Start with Aadhaar authentication history
Your Aadhaar authentication history can help you review authentication transactions associated with your Aadhaar number. It is a useful place to start if you want to investigate activity you do not recognise.
Visit the official UIDAI portal at myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in, log in using the required verification process and open Authentication History. Choose the relevant date range and authentication type where those options are available, then fetch and review the entries.
If a transaction looks unfamiliar, do not assume that it automatically proves fraud. Check the details and contact UIDAI if you need help understanding the entry.
There is an important limit to this check: Aadhaar authentication history does not show every loan application made using your PAN. It is one part of the picture, not a complete record of your financial identity.
Your credit report can reveal a different set of warning signs
If someone has applied for credit using your details, your credit report may show an unfamiliar loan account or an enquiry from a lender. That is why reviewing your credit report matters even if your Aadhaar authentication history looks normal.
In India, you can request a free full credit report once per calendar year from each of the four credit information companies. Use their official websites to confirm the current process:
- TransUnion CIBIL
- Experian India
- CRIF High Mark
- Equifax India
Look closely at the accounts or loans section and the credit enquiries section. An unfamiliar account needs prompt investigation. An unexplained enquiry may indicate that someone attempted to apply for credit using your details, although it does not necessarily mean a loan was approved.
You can spread the four reports across the year as a reminder to review them regularly:
| Quarter | Credit bureau |
|---|---|
| January–March | TransUnion CIBIL |
| April–June | Experian India |
| July–September | CRIF High Mark |
| October–December | Equifax India |
This schedule is a practical routine, not a reason to wait if you already have a concern.
A clean report is reassuring, but it is not proof that your information has never been exposed or misused. It only tells you what is reflected in that report at the time you check it.
What locking your Aadhaar biometrics can, and cannot, do
UIDAI allows you to lock your Aadhaar biometrics to help prevent fingerprint- or iris-based authentication while the lock is enabled. You can find the Lock/Unlock Biometrics service through the official myAadhaar portal. Follow UIDAI’s current instructions to enable the lock and to unlock it when biometric authentication is needed for a legitimate transaction.
You can also check the official mAadhaar app for the biometric-locking service. The interface and process may change, so use UIDAI’s current guidance.
Biometric locking is a useful safeguard, but its scope matters. It does not prevent every form of identity theft, and it does not stop someone from attempting to misuse an exposed PAN number or other personal information.
Where accepted, a masked Aadhaar copy can reduce how much of your Aadhaar number you disclose; a Virtual ID can be used instead of the Aadhaar number for supported services. Marking document copies for a specific purpose and avoiding unverified websites or apps are also sensible precautions.
If you discover a loan you never took
An unfamiliar loan account or a demand for repayment should not be ignored. Keep copies of your credit report, correspondence and complaint acknowledgements, and contact the lender through its official fraud or grievance channel. Explain in writing that you did not apply for or receive the loan and request an investigation.
If the loan is found to be fraudulent, ask the lender to correct the information it has shared with the credit bureaus, then follow up until the dispute is resolved and the records are updated.
- Report cybercrime: cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930, the national cybercrime helpline.
- Aadhaar authentication issues: contact UIDAI on 1947 or at help@uidai.gov.in.
Share the relevant details and keep the complaint references for follow-up.
What Mitigata recommends
Do not treat identity protection as a one-time document check. Review your credit records, understand the Aadhaar activity associated with your number, reduce unnecessary sharing and take unfamiliar transactions seriously.
Just as importantly, do not assume that a clean credit report means your personal information is safe. Credit reports can help identify accounts and enquiries; Aadhaar history can help you review authentication activity. Neither tells you everywhere your email address, phone number or other information may have appeared.
Mitigata’s recommendation is to look at both sides of the problem: signs that your identity may already be misused, and evidence that your personal information may be exposed. Finding exposed information does not automatically mean fraud has occurred, but it gives you a reason to assess the risk and take appropriate precautions.
Check your identity risk with Mitigata
Mitigata’s Identity Theft Detection scans more than 3,800 sources for exposed personal information, including email addresses, phone numbers, passwords and information associated with data breaches. It can help you identify potential exposure and understand what steps to take next.
The scan takes about 60 seconds and can also cover family members. It complements, rather than replaces, the official checks described above.
Download the Mitigata app to run an identity theft detection scan and take the next step towards understanding your identity risk. Know what may be exposed. Know what to check. Take action.
FAQs
How can I check if a loan has been taken on my PAN card?
Request your free full credit report from TransUnion CIBIL, Experian India, CRIF High Mark and Equifax India. Check the accounts or loans section and the credit enquiries section for anything you do not recognise.
Does Aadhaar authentication history show loans taken in my name?
No. It shows authentication transactions linked to your Aadhaar number, not every loan application made using your PAN. Use it alongside your credit reports, not instead of them.
Does locking my Aadhaar biometrics stop identity theft?
It helps prevent fingerprint- or iris-based authentication while the lock is on. It does not stop someone from misusing an exposed PAN number or other personal details.
What should I do if I find a loan I never took?
Contact the lender through its official fraud or grievance channel and explain in writing that you did not apply for the loan. Report it on cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930, keep all complaint references, and follow up until the credit bureaus update your records.
Is a clean credit report proof that my details are safe?
No. It only shows what is on the report when you check it. Your email address, phone number or other details may still be exposed elsewhere, which is why a separate exposure check is worth running.
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