EPFO Issues Security Alert: Members Told to Protect UAN, Aadhaar and Bank Details

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Members risk having their login details stolen and misused for cyber fraud. EPFO’s official member-portal warning also asks subscribers to maintain a complex password and keep their devices updated. Regular account checks remain part of its wider guidance for identifying unauthorised activity. 

How Does The Warning Affect PF Members?

Members checking their savings or using online PF services have been asked to look closely at the address of the page they open. The advisory flags spelling variations and unusual domains. It also warns against entering sensitive information, including Pension Payment Order details, on unofficial pages. 

The view is that the practical value lies in keeping account access under the member’s control. For salaried borrowers managing personal finances, sharing a document is different from handing over a PF password. With the password, the exposure extends beyond the information being shared to the account itself. Members can avoid that risk by keeping their login credentials private.

What Has EPFO Said About Calls And Messages?

The advisory directs members to EPFO’s official website and warns them not to open suspicious links. Requests for personal details, OTPs or login credentials do not come from EPFO over the phone, it said. The same applies to requests through WhatsApp, SMS, social media and email.

On the member portal, EPFO also states that it does not call or message members asking them to deposit money. Its published instructions also advise against responding to such calls or messages. Those instructions still apply when the caller claims to work for EPFO. 

How Can Members Safeguard Their EPFO Accounts?

The checks begin before login and continue after the account opens. EPFO’s published guidance covers both protecting credentials and reviewing the information held against the UAN.

The password and device precautions appear on EPFO’s member portal. Its earlier digital-hygiene guidance adds the account checks, giving subscribers a way to identify discrepancies after accessing their records. 

What Did EPFO Advise Earlier?

On 1 December 2020, EPFO’s Goa regional office issued “EPFO Goa Appeals Subscribers To Practice Digital Hygiene," Release ID 1677626. Subscribers were warned against sharing Aadhaar OTPs with unknown persons during online claim submission.

Employers also received an instruction: verify workers’ details against documentary evidence before digitally updating KYC information. The release asked members to report irregularities to both their employer and EPFO. 

Where Should Suspected Fraud Be Reported?

Suspicious identifiers can be submitted through the government’s Report Suspect facility. These include website addresses, phone numbers and email IDs associated with suspected cybercrime.

For financial cyber fraud, the government directs victims to call 1930 immediately. Reporting a suspicious message and filing a complaint about money already lost are separate actions. 

Conclusion

EPFO’s warning asks members to stop sensitive information reaching unofficial pages or callers. Reviewing PF records provides another check. Where an irregularity appears, the published guidance calls for prompt contact with the employer and EPFO.

FAQs

1. Is It Safe To Share An EPFO Password With Someone Offering Help?

EPFO’s member portal says passwords must not be shared. Assistance with an account does not require handing control of the login to another person.

2. What Should A Member Do About Unexpected EPFO OTPs?

The OTP should remain private. Members can review their account through the official portal and report any irregularity to EPFO.

3. Which Details Does The Security Advisory Cover?

The advisory covers UAN, PPO, Aadhaar, PAN, bank details, passwords and OTPs. Members should not enter them on unofficial websites.

4. Does EPFO Ask Members To Deposit Money Over The Phone?

No. EPFO’s published warning says it does not contact members to ask for monetary deposits.

5. Which Number Handles Financial Cyber Fraud Reports?

1930 is the government helpline for immediate reporting of financial cyber fraud and assistance with cybercrime complaints.