With a loophole in the Aadhaar-enabled Payment System (AePS), scammers are able to steal money from any bank account through access to fingerprint data of a victim, an Aadhaar number and bank name.
Also, there is no scope for One-Time Password (OTP) authentication. Moreover, a victim would not get any SMS notification related to money being debited from the bank account.
Scammers can lay their hands on Aadhaar numbers from various spots such as cyber cafes, photocopy shops, hotels, etc. To get details related to the bank name, scammers usually stalk the victims.
To gain access to the fingerprints of victims, fraudsters find their land registry and other sources. The fingerprint data is then imprinted on artificial silicon thumbs; these are then used to withdraw money through AePS.
In order to stay safe from such a scam, an individual must lock the Aadhaar biometric data by using the mAadhaar app or the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) website.
- Download the mAadhaar app and use the Aadhaar-linked mobile number to sign up.
- Verify the Aadhaar details and opt to lock the biometric using the app.
The process to download the mAadhaar app on an Android smartphone or iPhone:
- Android users must open the Google Play Store, while iPhone users must open the App Store to access and install the mAadhaar app.
- Provide the required necessary permissions for the mAadhaar app for download.
- After the mAadhaar gets installed, set in a password comprising four digits (all numerals) for the app.
The steps to lock biometrics using the mAadhaar app:
- Open the mAadhaar app and log in with the user ID and password.
- Click on the profile.
- Tap on the menu option, which is located in the top right corner of the app.
- Click on the ‘Biometric Settings’.
- Select a tick on the ‘Enable Biometric Lock’ option.
- Tap on ‘OK’, and an OTP will be dispatched to the Aadhaar-registered mobile number.
- Once the OTP is keyed in, the biometric details will get locked immediately.
Rajiv is an independent editorial consultant for the last decade. Prior to this, he worked as a full-time journalist associated with various prominent print media houses. In his spare time, he loves to paint on canvas.
