AePS Cyberfraud: Money from Bank A/C Stolen Using Aadhaar Biometrics Data from Victim’s Land Records Obtained from Govt Website

In a recent cyberfraud case that emerged in Bihar's Purnia district, criminals swindled a person's account without using the conventional methods of OTP or phone calls. Instead, they exploited the victim's Aadhaar biometrics data obtained from government land records to make transactions using the Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AePS). The Bihar police have been actively investigating such cases and recently arrested 33 alleged cybercriminals operating from Nawada district.

Bihar police revealed the unique scam in a press conference, the video of which was shared by Haryana IPS officer Pankaj Jain on X (Twitter).

No OTP, No phone call, No clue, Yet money was stolen from the bank account... using registry papers.

This case is from Purnia, Bihar. #CyberFraud

However Government in 2018 🙃 :- #Aadhaar data is secure behind walls that are 13 feet high and five feet thick" pic.twitter.com/5naWeyro1p

— Amit Karn (@amitkarn99) July 11, 2024

While in this case cyber thieves used biometric details from victim’s land record or commonly called land registry, in another instance of cyberfraud related to Aadhaar, criminals (in Bihar only) allegedly cloned fingerprints to steal money from victims' bank accounts without using OTP or phone calls. The accused hacked into the government's database to access the victim's land records dated June 25, 2024. The criminals then breached the victim's Aadhaar details and obtained their fingerprint. Using the victim's thumb impression extracted from the land records, the accused created a false thumb impression. They used this false thumb impression along with the victim's Aadhaar to withdraw money from the bank account.

The Bihar Police have detained eight individuals involved in this systematic fraud scheme. To prevent similar incidents, consider these precautions:

• Mask your Aadhaar number: Download the masked Aadhaar from the UIDAI website.
• Use virtual IDs: Process online transactions using a virtual ID instead of Aadhaar.
• Link your number and email ID to Aadhaar: Ensure your contact details are linked to your Aadhaar for notifications about suspicious activity.

If you encounter AePS cyber fraud, report it on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal. Stay vigilant and protect your hard-earned money.

Advertisements