How to Find PAN Card Number in Emails? Best Forensic Approach

Approved By Anuraag Singh

Published On October 30th, 2025

Reading Time 6 Minutes Reading

Category Forensics

There are various scenarios where you need to know how to search PAN card in email. Here is one scenario that we recently dealt with in our recent case studies.

We are involved in a digital evidence extraction case, and our examiner needs to check properties of multiple emails for any type of email threat in the corporate office, where one employee is accused of financial misconduct. During an investigation of emails, a thread between the employee and an external vendor stands out, and a suspicious email attachment is found. A PDF invoice is attached that lists only partial financial information. There were only a few digits of the PAN card number visible, but not enough to know the identity of the person. To move the investigation forward, the examiner needs to find the complete PAN card number from the available email data without breaching any privacy or altering digital evidence collection procedure.

Scenarios like this are so common in email forensics and digital investigations. This is just one, we faced so many scenarios, like when the examiner came into a situation where he needed to know how to search PAN card details in emails. This plays a crucial role to find PII data in emails while searching link analysis of transactions, tax records, or suspicious communications. That’s why we need to understand how to search PAN card in email isn’t just a convenience, but it’s a vital forensic skill.

Knowing how to find PAN card number helps professionals verify identities, recover missing data, and trace financial relationships in compliance with legal standards. For individuals, it’s equally valuable when recovering misplaced PAN information from inbox archives or official emails.

Why is it Important to find PAN Card Number in Emails During Investigations?

As we already discussed, there are various scenarios where we need to find PAN card number from emails. You probably realized it’s not that easy, as typing a few words into your inbox can’t place you into the conclusion. In digital forensics investigations, such details can be crucial evidence. For example, in cases that involve financial fraud, KYC verification or identity threads.

Emails often contain attachments like PDF invoices, KYC forms, or crucial bank statements. These files may hold PAN numbers, Aadhaar details, or other identity information. During investigations, these data can help in:

digital-selection

For example, in corporate investigations, employees might share various email verification records, PAN details, etc, for salary processing or reimbursements. If there’s suspicion of data misuse or insider fraud, forensic experts need to locate every instance of such sensitive information.

PAN (Permanent Account Number) is a unique identifier issued by the Indian Income Tax Department. Since individuals often send or receive PAN details in emails (like tax documents, salary slips, or account opening forms), those emails become potential goldmines for investigators.

However, to search PAN card details manually isn’t a practical strategy, especially with evidence that must be accurate, complete, and legally valid. For that, it’s best to opt for professional Email Analysis Software that can help investigators and cybersecurity professionals automatically search, extract, and find PAN Card number embedded in email data.

So, rather than wasting time scrolling for solutions, it’s the best choice to opt for the solution which has a specialty in email investigations and has been authenti and authorized by various law enforcement agencies as well.

How to Know PAN Card Number in Emails Easily?

MailXaminer is a dedicated software that is designed for a deep analysis of emails. It is capable enough to easily identify a phishing email and perform forensic data analytics thoroughly. This is the most trusted software by investigators and digital forensic experts worldwide, as they can get all the email information in the platform for various purposes.

Here are the steps on how to search PAN card in Email:

Step 1. Import the Email Data as Evidence

Add email as evidence in your preferrable email client
[Here we will move with the Outlook email client, you can opt for it as per your requirement.] Load your evidence files (like PST, OST, or MBOX files) into the tool.

email clients options

Step 2. View All Indexed data in one place

The software auto-indexes all emails, attachments, and option to analyze email header. In Indexed data, you can see all the emails being displayed.

indexed data

Additional information- You can also connect directly to cloud mail accounts using authorized credentials, ideal for live investigations or corporate audits.

Step 3. Used Advanced Features to Search PAN Card Details

Now, opt for be default custodian panel option and apply the standard filter options.

custodian filters

Step 4. Analyze the Results

After applying for standard filter options, you will be able to see all the tags of PII data. Opt for the Permanent Account Number option. Once the search is complete, the software lists all emails and attachments containing matching PAN patterns. You can preview the email body and attachments, Highlight detected PAN text, view sender, receiver, and timestamps, Filter by file type, date, or source.

advanced filters

Step 5. Export Evidence Files

The software allows you to export the identified results in legally admissible formats such as PDF, CSV, or EML for documentation and reporting. This helps in maintaining the chain of custody required in digital investigations.

export options

Step 5. Generate Report

At the end of the process, it provides you with a detailed, comprehensive report showing where each PAN detail was found. This includes sender, subject line, and file path. This structured reporting is critical for auditors and legal teams.

generate report

What are the Benefits of Using this Software to Search PAN Numbers?

This doesn’t just make it easy to search for PAN numbers, but it also brings accuracy, speed, and trust to digital investigations. This is so because it can provide you with a vast list of features for investigations.

Here’s the list of the features that professionals prefer:

Regex-Based Search- Detects PAN patterns automatically, even if hidden within files or archives.
Attachment & Metadata Scanning- Goes beyond simple text search to analyze all attachments and embedded data.
Multi-Format Support- Handles PST, MBOX, EDB, NSF, and cloud mailboxes easily.
Legal Compliance- Ensures all extracted data maintains integrity and is admissible in court.
Report Generation- Auto-generates professional investigation reports.
User-Friendly Interface- Simple dashboard for both forensic experts and IT investigators.

For investigators asking how to find PAN card numbers in emails quickly and accurately, it can provide an all-in-one solution. It minimizes manual effort while improving precision, crucial in time-sensitive investigations.

Conclusion

Today, finding sensitive information like PAN card details within emails demands precision and reliability. Instead of relying on manual searches, use an authorized forensic solution. This ensures fast, accurate, and legally defensible results that make it the smarter, more professional way to reveal vital email evidence.

By Mansi Joshi

Tech enthusiast & cyber expert for the past 5 years. Love to solve complicated scenarios to counter cyber crimes with in-depth technical knowledge.

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