New Delhi, Dec. 29 -- Every citizen's PAN card serves as a key identifier for most financial transactions in India, linking income, investments, bank accounts and loans to a single identity.

This central role makes the PAN indispensable for tax compliance and financial transparency, but it also makes it a prime target for fraudsters. With just a copy of a PAN card, scammers can misuse the information to open bank accounts, apply for credit cards or even take out loans, often without the individual's knowledge.

Such misuse typically comes to light only when victims receive recovery calls, credit score alerts or tax notices for transactions they never made. Several cases have been reported with similar incidents, where victims complained ...