To check if an Aadhaar card is fake, visit myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in/verifyAadhaar, enter the 12-digit number, and click “Proceed And Verify Aadhaar.” If genuine, the cardholder’s name, age, and gender appear on screen. If nothing appears, the number is not a valid Aadhaar number. The UIDAI has confirmed that not all 12-digit numbers are Aadhaar numbers — many are counterfeit.
Why Fake Aadhaar Cards Are a Serious Problem
Since 2017, Aadhaar has been India’s primary identity document — required for bank account opening, vaccination records, income tax filing, SIM card registration, and government services. Its widespread use makes it the most attractive document for fraudsters to counterfeit.
The UIDAI has officially warned that not all 12-digit numbers are valid Aadhaar numbers. Criminals use fake Aadhaar cards for identity theft, financial fraud, obtaining SIM cards to enable SIM swapping, and accessing government benefits they are not entitled to.
How to Check if an Aadhaar Card Is Fake: Step-by-Step
- Go to myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in/verifyAadhaar.
- Enter the 12-digit Aadhaar number shown on the card in the input box.
- Click “Proceed And Verify Aadhaar”.
- If the number is valid, the cardholder’s name, age, and gender appear on screen.
- If no details appear, the Aadhaar number is likely fake or does not exist in the UIDAI database.
You can also verify Aadhaar using the mAadhaar app for real-time verification on your mobile device.
How to File a Complaint About a Fake Aadhaar Card
If you confirm that an Aadhaar number is fake or your own card has been counterfeited, report it immediately:
- Call UIDAI toll-free: 1947
- Email: help@uidai.gov.in
- Online complaint portal: myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in
- Cyber crime: File a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930 if fraud has already taken place using a fake Aadhaar.
How Do Fraudsters Use Fake Aadhaar Cards?
Criminals create or use counterfeit Aadhaar cards for five main types of fraud:
- Identity theft: Assuming another person’s identity to open bank accounts, apply for loans, or make purchases. This is one of India’s fastest-growing identity theft methods.
- Financial fraud: Creating accounts using a fake identity to siphon money, commit online banking fraud, or launder funds.
- SIM card acquisition: Obtaining SIM cards in someone else’s name to use for untraceable communication or to execute SIM swap fraud.
- Illegal access to government services: Fraudulently claiming subsidies, benefits, or entitlements that belong to the real cardholder.
- Employment or education fraud: Gaining access to jobs or educational institutions under a false identity that meets criteria the real fraudster does not.
How to Lock Your Aadhaar Biometric Data
If you suspect your Aadhaar has been misused, lock your biometric data immediately to prevent further misuse. The UIDAI allows any Aadhaar holder to lock and unlock biometric authentication through the myAadhaar portal or the 1947 helpline.
For a detailed guide on this, read: How to Lock and Unlock Aadhaar Biometric Data.
What Makes a Genuine Aadhaar Card?
The UIDAI has built several security features into the physical Aadhaar card that distinguish genuine cards from fakes:
- A QR code on the back that, when scanned, displays the cardholder’s demographic details and a digitally signed photograph.
- A hologram with the UIDAI logo.
- Microtext and guilloche patterns in the background design.
- The 12-digit Aadhaar number is unique and verifiable only through the UIDAI portal.
If someone presents an Aadhaar card with a QR code that fails to scan, or whose number does not resolve on the UIDAI portal, treat it as a fake.
Also Check: Mobile Numbers Linked to Your Aadhaar
A fake Aadhaar is often used to register SIM cards in your name. You can check which mobile numbers are currently registered under your Aadhaar by using the TAFCOP portal — check all mobile numbers linked with Aadhaar.
If you have been defrauded using a fake Aadhaar or need help with an identity fraud investigation, contact Anuraag Singh — India’s leading cyber expert in identity fraud cases.
