No one would want his ID card or CNIC to be used for something else. Your ID card is a very important piece of paper that has all of your personal information on it, such as your name, father’s name, date of birth, ID number, address, and so on. This information can be used in any place.
It’s important to keep your original ID card and a copy of it safe so that they don’t get lost or stolen. So, I’ll talk about the following in this article:
- How ID Card can be misused?
- How to avoid an ID Card from being misused?
How ID Card can be misused?
There are many ways to abuse an ID card, but we can’t list them all here. Here are a few of them, though:
Property sale agreement
If someone has your ID card, they can get stamp paper in your name and write an agreement that you have sold your property to them. It is not easy to transfer someone’s property without their consent and genuine signature, but it is not impossible.
The person who has the stamp paper in your name can write any terms and conditions they want. Even if your signature is forged, you will need to go to civil court to get the stamp paper canceled, which can take a long time and waste your money and time.
Surety on the ID card
In some cases, your ID card can be misused to stand surety for someone else. For example, if someone accused of a crime files a bail petition, the court may grant bail on the condition that they furnish a surety bond for a certain amount of money. Your ID card could be used to stand surety for this person.
If the person does not appear in court, the court will take action against the person who stood surety for them. This is not as easy as it may sound, but it is possible.
Taking a loan through ID card
There are many online loan applications that offer loans based only on your ID card. If someone has your ID card, they can apply for a loan in your name.
Beware! Most of these mobile loan applications are blackmailers. They will threaten you in different ways if you fail to pay back the loan amount with interest. In addition to your ID card and photo, they may also get access to your mobile data, such as your contact number and gallery. They can then start blackmailing you based on this data.
I do not recommend taking loans from any mobile application.
Taking benefits from government schemes
From time to time, the government of Pakistan launches different schemes and relief packages. Pakistani citizens can get benefits from these schemes and packages based on their ID cards. For example, under the Sasta or Muft Aata scheme, people can get subsidized or free flour based on their ID cards.
Someone who has your ID card could get subsidized or free flour under your name. I am not going to go into detail about how this fraud is done, but I am just giving you an idea that your ID card can be misused in this way.
Other misuses of ID card
There are many other misuses of ID cards, such as opening a bank account or sending money to a foreign country illegally. I cannot explain all of the misuse of ID cards here, but I hope this gives you a general idea of the risks involved.
How to avoid an ID Card from being misused?
To keep your ID card from being used in the wrong way, you should take care of it and keep it in a safe place. Here are a few tips you can use to keep your ID card from being misused.
Don’t give your original ID card to anyone
When you need to get a document, such as a domicile certificate or driving license, you will usually only need to show your original ID card and submit a photocopy. No department should require you to submit your original ID card.
If you are working through an agent, be careful not to give them your original ID card. Only give it to people or organizations that you completely trust.
Cross your ID card copy and specify its purpose
If you need to submit a photocopy of your ID card to a department, always cross it and write the purpose of giving the copy on both sides. This will help to prevent your ID card from being misused.
Keep your original and photocopy of your ID card safe
It is important to keep both your original and photocopy of your ID card safe. Don’t leave them lying around where someone else can get their hands on them.
Don’t upload your ID card to untrustworthy websites
Only upload your ID card to websites that you trust. If you want to save your ID card on your email account, be careful not to share your password with anyone. If someone has your password, they could download your ID card and misuse it.
Carry a colored copy of your ID card
To avoid losing your original ID card, consider carrying a colored copy of it in your pocket. However, if you are going to a place where you will need your original ID card, such as a bank or government office, be sure to bring it with you.
Report a lost ID card to the police
If you lose your ID card, report it to the police immediately. This includes reporting lost photocopies of your ID card. In case your ID card is misused, you will have a record of reporting it to the police.
Save the police report about your lost ID card in a safe place, such as your email account. This way, you will have it when you need it.