Omozing Answers › Scams and fraud

Can someone take a loan using my PAN or Aadhaar?

Yes, it can happen, though it is not easy and it rarely goes unnoticed. Fraudsters collect copies of PAN and Aadhaar from phishing pages, fake job or KYC forms and carelessly shared photocopies, then try to pass them off with a different photo or bank account. The attempt usually leaves a trace on your credit report: first an enquiry, then a loan account. Watch your bureau alerts, lock your Aadhaar biometrics, mark every copy you share with its purpose and date, and dispute anything you don’t recognise straight away.

Written by the Omozing Credit Team · Reviewed for accuracy by our credit and compliance team · Updated October 2026

How a misused PAN shows up, and where to catch it

Your PAN is the key that ties a loan to your credit history. When anyone applies for credit using it, the lender checks your report, and that check is recorded. So even a fraud attempt that fails tends to leave a footprint you can see.

From leaked copy to damaged score

1. A copy of your PAN or Aadhaar leaks Phishing form, fake KYC, shared photocopy 2. Someone applies for a loan in your name Often a small app loan with quick checks 3. A hard enquiry lands on your report The bureau sends you an SMS or email alert 4. A loan account appears in your name Visible in your full credit report 5. Unpaid EMIs pull your score down Overdue marks, then recovery calls to you Catch it here Dispute with the bureau before any EMI is missed

Stages 3 and 4 are your best chance. Caught there, the fix is a dispute. Caught at stage 5, you are also cleaning up overdue marks the fraudster created.

Where fraudsters get your details

Phishing pages

Fake “KYC update” or “loan offer” forms that ask you to upload PAN, Aadhaar and a selfie. How to spot a fake KYC message.

Unmarked photocopies

Copies given for a SIM, rental, job or hotel check-in, reused for something you never agreed to.

Fake loan apps

Apps that take your documents and a fee, then never lend. The upfront-fee trick.

Shared OTPs

An OTP read out to a “bank executive” can approve an application or e-sign a document in your name.

What most people get wrong: they assume a loan needs their signature and a branch visit, so a stolen PAN copy is harmless. Digital loans can be applied for online, and a PAN plus a phone number someone controls is often enough to start an application. The safeguard is noticing quickly, not hoping no one tries.

Protect yourself in ten minutes

If you find a loan you never took

Don’t pay it to make the calls stop, and don’t ignore it. Each place below handles a different part of the problem.

WhereWhat it does for you
Credit bureau disputeCorrects your report. Must be resolved within 30 days; ₹100 a day is owed if it runs late. How the compensation works
The lender’s grievance officerAsks the lender to investigate the account and stop recovery calls to you
1930 or cybercrime.gov.inRecords the fraud with the authorities; keep the complaint number for your dispute
RBI Sachet (sachet.rbi.org.in)Reports an app or entity that isn’t authorised to lend
RBI Integrated Ombudsman (cms.rbi.org.in)Escalation if a regulated lender doesn’t resolve your complaint

The step-by-step dispute process, with the evidence that speeds it up, is in A loan I never took is on my credit report.

A loan on your report that isn’t yours?

Corrections are free. Our guide walks through disputing with each bureau and what to attach.

Think you can spot a scam?

Try our free 2-minute test: 12 real-style messages. How many can you catch?

Frequently asked questions

Can someone take a loan with just my PAN number?

A PAN number alone is rarely enough, but combined with a stolen Aadhaar copy, a photo and a phone number the fraudster controls, applications do get through. Watch for bureau alerts and enquiries you didn’t make.

How do I check if a loan has been taken in my name?

Download your full credit report from each bureau; one free report per bureau is available every calendar year. Look at the accounts and enquiries sections for anything you don’t recognise.

Should I lock my Aadhaar biometrics?

It is a sensible precaution, especially if your Aadhaar copy may have leaked. You can lock and unlock them through UIDAI’s myAadhaar or mAadhaar.

Do I have to repay a loan someone took in my name?

Don’t pay it to end the calls. Dispute it with the bureau and the lender, file a cyber fraud complaint, and keep every reference number.

Will a fraudulent loan stay on my credit report?

Not once the dispute is upheld. The lender confirms the account isn’t yours and the bureau corrects your report, within 30 days in total.

Next questions people ask:

I clicked a phishing link or shared my OTP. What now? A loan I never took is on my credit report. What should I do? Is this call or message really from CIBIL or Experian?

Omozing is the digital lending brand of Aparampaar Finance Private Limited, an RBI-registered non-deposit-taking NBFC. Loans are subject to credit assessment. See our regulatory disclosures and grievance redressal process.