Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh — In a major crackdown, local law enforcement has exposed an elaborate forgery racket operating under the guise of a public service centre. The gang specialised in creating fake Aadhaar cards, among other government-issued documents, using software, printers, scanners, and foreign domain services. The incident shines a light on how identity fraud is becoming more sophisticated and the urgent need for vigilance.
The Scam: How It Worked
- The racket was run from a Jan Seva Kendra (public service centre) in the Pachdaura-Dohariya area under Bhojipura police limits. The accused, Mohammad Faheem (alias ‘Guddu’) and Zia-ul-Mustafa, operated the centre, preparing fake Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, domicile certificates, caste and income proofs, mark sheets, and more.
- According to police reports:
- These documents were made using a full kit: computers, printers, scanners, fingerprint machines, PVC card machines, cameras, lamination equipment, rubber stamps, etc.
- The fraudsters used domain names registered in countries such as Turkey and Egypt to host software or services to produce the documents.
- They charged about ₹1,000 per fake Aadhaar card. Turnaround time was extremely fast—some cards could be generated in under a minute once the required photo and particulars were submitted.
- Volume of fraud:
- More than 650 fake Aadhaar cards alone were created.
- In addition, scores of fake certificates (residency, caste, academic marksheets etc.) have been found.
- The operation reportedly spanned several states (UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, etc.).
Law Enforcement Action & Arrests
- The police, acting on a tip-off, raided the service centre early in the morning. Faheem and Mustafa were arrested while they were in the process of preparing forged documents.
- The raid led to the seizure of substantial equipment and materials used for forging identity documents: multiple printers/scanners, cameras, fingerprint scanners, stamp pads, lamination machines, and computers.
- Investigations revealed that Faheem had earlier been involved in authorised Aadhaar enrolment work for a bank. Following complaints about illegal charges for Aadhaar services, he was removed from that position—and then allegedly started the forgery racket under the Jan Seva Kendra banner with Mustafa.
Implications & Risks
- Identity theft & fraud risk: Fake Aadhaar or related identity documents can be used for many illegal purposes—opening bank or mobile accounts, applying for benefits or services illicitly, getting SIM cards fraudulently, and more.
- Social welfare, banking, telecom, and government services are vulnerable: Many systems still rely on Aadhaar or identity documents for KYC, eligibility checks, subsidies, etc. Forged documents threaten integrity across sectors.
- Trust erosion & regulatory challenges: Such incidents reduce public trust in identity verification systems. They also pose complex challenges for authorities in detecting, verifying, and prosecuting such fraud, especially when forged credentials are very good.
- International/domestic tool misuse: Use of foreign-registered domains for running illegal services demonstrates how cross-border digital infrastructure is being exploited.
What Can Be Done: Preventive Measures
For citizens, organisations, and policymakers:
- Public Awareness
- People should verify identity service centres before submitting documents.
- Any service that claims to issue identity documents faster than official timelines should raise suspicion.
- Strict Verification & Audit Trails
- Agencies using identity documents (banks, telecom companies, government departments) should strengthen document verification procedures—including verifying digital signatures, QR/UIDAI verification features, etc.
- Periodic audits of service centres (especially Jan Seva Kendras and CSCs) and the equipment they use.
- Legal & Regulatory Actions
- Stronger enforcement against unauthorised document creation services.
- Harsh penalties for both those making and using forged identity documents.
- Frameworks to trace domain registrations and shut down websites used for illegal document generation.
- Technology Tools
- Use of advanced detection tools (image forensic tools, duplication detection, metadata analysis) in verifying identity documents.
- Ensuring that UIDAI or other identity authorities make features (e.g. QR-code, app verification) easy to use for third parties and individuals.
- Reporting & Hotline Mechanisms
Local police, cybercrime units, and UIDAI should maintain hotlines or online portals for spoof/fake document complaints.
Encourage citizens to report suspicious service centres or mandates.
