In recent cases, people have lost money from their bank accounts—without even making a transaction! The reason? Their Aadhaar biometric data was misused.
How Did Money Disappear Without Any Transaction?
This is due to an AEPS (Aadhaar Enabled Payment System) scam. In AEPS, money can be withdrawn using your Aadhaar number and fingerprint. Scammers are taking advantage of this system.
They create fake fingerprints (like silicone prints) to trick the system and withdraw money without your knowledge.
How to Stay Safe? Lock Your Aadhaar Biometrics
Thankfully, UIDAI (the Aadhaar authority) allows you to lock your fingerprint and iris data online. Once locked, no one will be able to use your biometrics for verification or transactions.
Steps to Lock Aadhaar Biometrics:
Go to the official UIDAI website
Click on the My Aadhaar section
Select Lock/Unlock Biometrics
Enter your Aadhaar number and login with OTP
Click on Enable Biometric Locking
You Can Still Use Other Aadhaar Services
Even after biometric locking, you can continue to use services like:
eKYC
LPG subsidy
Government schemes
These work through OTP, so locking biometrics won’t affect them.
Need to Use Biometrics? You Can Temporarily Unlock
If you’re visiting a bank or telecom company and need to use biometrics for KYC, you can temporarily unlock it.
Once the work is done, you can lock it again. This protects you from fraud.
Shared Your Aadhaar Number? Don’t Worry
Even if your Aadhaar number is shared, no one can misuse your biometrics if they’re locked. So, your data stays safe.
Important Advice for the Elderly and Poor Account Holders
Check biometric usage history regularly
Destroy photocopies of Aadhaar after use
Never share your Aadhaar number with anyone
These small steps can protect you from big scams.
Locking your Aadhaar biometrics takes just a few minutes but can save you from major financial fraud. Do it today and stay safe.
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