How to check if someone took a loan in your name using your PAN

How a loan ends up in your name

Copies of PAN and Aadhaar cards travel a long way: to employers, landlords, shops, loan apps and anyone who asks for “KYC”. With a copy and a photo, a fraudster can try to take a small loan or a phone on EMI in your name and never repay it.

It happens to well-known people too. In 2022 the actor Rajkummar Rao posted that his PAN had been misused to take a ₹2,500 loan, which hurt his CIBIL score. People often find out only when a recovery agent calls or a loan they apply for is refused.

How to get your free credit report

Under the RBI's Credit Information Reporting Directions of January 2025, every credit bureau must give you one free full credit report, including your score, once each calendar year, and show the link to it on its home page. There are four bureaus, so you can get four free reports a year.

• Go to the bureau's own website by typing its name into your browser, not through an ad or a link someone sent you.
• Look for the free annual report link on the home page. You will be asked for your PAN and details, and to confirm with an OTP or questions about your loans.
• Spread your four free reports across the year, one bureau every three months, to keep a regular check.

Credit bureaus must also send you an SMS or email when your report is pulled by a lender. Keep your mobile number and email up to date with your bank so those alerts reach you.

What to look for in the report

If you find a loan you did not take

1. Raise a dispute with the credit bureau that shows it, through the dispute option on its website, and keep the reference number.
2. Write to the lender named in the report, to its grievance or nodal officer, saying you did not take the loan, and ask for the application documents and the account to be investigated as fraud.
3. Report the identity fraud on 1930 or at cybercrime.gov.in, and file a complaint at your local police station. Keep a copy for the lender and the bureau.
4. Lock your Aadhaar biometrics through UIDAI. See is it safe to share your Aadhaar.

Under the same RBI directions, if your complaint is not resolved within 30 days you are owed ₹100 for every day of delay, paid by the lender or the bureau, whichever caused it. If either refuses, you can complain to the RBI Ombudsman.

If it already happened

1. Download and save the credit report that shows the unknown loan.
2. Raise a dispute with that credit bureau and keep the reference number.
3. Write to the lender's grievance officer and ask for the loan application documents.
4. Report it on 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in and at your local police station, and keep copies of every complaint.
5. Check your report again with another bureau after a month to make sure it has been corrected.

• Call 1930The national cyber fraud helpline. Call within hours if money left your account.
• cybercrime.gov.inFile a complaint online and keep the acknowledgement number.
• Chakshu on Sanchar SaathiReport a fraud call, SMS or WhatsApp number.

Questions