Aadhaar card holders from all corners of India have taken to social media to raise awareness about a new type of scam that poses a serious threat to their bank accounts. Scammers are exploiting a vulnerability in the recently introduced Aadhaar-enabled Payment System (AePS), potentially draining your bank account to zero without the need for OTP authentication. 

This fraudulent scheme allows scammers to siphon funds from your account with access to your fingerprint data, knowledge of your Aadhaar number, and the name of your bank. What's even more alarming is the absence of SMS notifications to alert you when money is debited from your account.

Locations such as cyber cafes, photocopy shops, and hotels have become hotspots for Aadhaar number theft, with scammers frequently tracking victims to determine their bank affiliation. 

The final piece in this AePS puzzle revolves around the theft of fingerprint patterns. Scammers employ innovative methods to procure fingerprint data from sources like land registry offices or other service providers that use fingerprints for authentication. Subsequently, they imprint this stolen fingerprint data on artificial silicon thumbs, enabling them to withdraw money through AePS undetected.

To protect against this scam, it is important for Aadhaar card holders to secure their biometric data. This can be done by using either the mAadhaar app or the UIDAI website. Since AePS is automatically enabled for all Aadhaar cardholders, along with their biometric data being unlocked by default, it is imperative for users to be proactive in disabling it for enhanced security.

To deactivate AePS and lock the biometric data associated with your Aadhaar card, you can follow these steps. First, download the mAadhaar app on your smartphone, whether it's Android or iOS. Sign up using your Aadhaar-linked mobile number, verify your Aadhaar information, and then select the option to lock your biometric data within the app. It's worth noting that the app allows you to unlock your biometrics whenever necessary. Additionally, you can also opt to lock your Aadhaar number within the app, preventing unauthorized use of your Aadhaar number and OTP for online services.

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) recently introduced the Aadhaar-enabled Payment System (AePS) in compliance with guidelines established by the RBI and UIDAI. This innovative system empowers Aadhaar cardholders to perform various financial transactions, including cash deposits, withdrawals, balance inquiries, mini statements, Aadhaar-to-Aadhaar fund transfers, transaction authentication, and payments via BHIM Aadhaar. All that's required for these operations are three key elements: the bank name, Aadhaar number, and biometric authentication.

The primary aim of the Aadhaar-enabled Payment System (AePS) is to simplify microATM transactions, facilitating transactions of up to Rs 10,000 per transaction. In a single day, individuals can withdraw a maximum of Rs 50,000 through AePS. While the NPCI's initiative is groundbreaking, it's essential to acknowledge that fingerprint data can potentially be compromised from various sources, and counterfeit silicon fingers can be used to replicate genuine fingerprints.

How To Lock Biometrics via mAadhaar App?

  • Launch the mAadhaar app and sign in by entering your user ID and password.

  • Access your profile.

  • Tap the Menu option located in the upper-right corner of the app.

  • Select 'Biometric Settings.'

  • Enable the 'Biometric Lock' option by checking the box.

  • Tap 'OK,' and an OTP will be sent to the mobile number registered with your Aadhaar.

  • Upon entering the OTP, your biometric details will be instantly locked for added security.

How to Unlock Biometrics via mAadhaar app?

  • Launch the mAadhaar app and access the menu.

  • Select 'Biometric Settings' from the drop-down options.

  • You will receive a message that says, "Your biometrics will be temporarily unlocked" on your phone screen.

  • Tap 'Yes' to confirm, and your biometric details will be unlocked for a duration of 10 minutes.