The income tax department has uncovered a scheme involving fraudulent use of Permanent Account Numbers (PAN) by individuals to falsely claim house rent allowance (HRA), despite not being tenants, stated a Times of India (ToI) news report. As per initial findings, around 8,000-10,000 significant cases have been identified, with amounts exceeding Rs 10 lakh in many instances. The investigation began when authorities stumbled upon purported rent receipts totaling approximately Rs 1 crore under an individual's PAN. However, upon questioning, the individual disavowed any knowledge of these transactions. Subsequent inquiry revealed that the individual had not actually received the rent attributed to them.