Beware Of Fake Income Tax Refund Messages; IT Dept Alerts Taxpayers – News18

Income Tax Refund Status Check: The Income Tax Department has issued a strong warning about a rise in ITR refund scams. Scammers are employing deceptive tactics such as fake calls, pop-up notifications, and phishing emails to trick taxpayers into divulging sensitive information.

The department urges taxpayers to stay alert and verify any suspicious communication through official channels.

“Do not reply to emails or visit websites that request credit card numbers, bank account details, or any other sensitive information. The Income Tax Department may contact taxpayers through the email address provided,” the IT Department said in a series of posts on social media platform X.

The post added, “The fake message may read like this: You have been approved an Income Tax Refund of Rs, 15000/-, the amount will be credited to your account shortly, Please verify your account number 5XXXXX6777. If this is not correct, please update your bank account information by visiting the link below.”

The department also shared an example of a man losing money in a scam.

“A man lost Rs 1.5 lakh after clicking on a fake income tax refund message. He was directed to a fraudulent app, which led to his phone being hacked and money debited from his account,” the X post added.

How To Report To Income Tax Department?

If you suspect an email is fraudulent, forward it to [email protected] and also send a copy to [email protected].

If you receive a phishing email, the Income Tax Department advises forwarding it to [email protected].

The Income Tax Department will never ask for personal or financial information via email or phone.

How to Protect Yourself:

• Verify all communication: Double-check any communication claiming to be from the Income Tax Department through official channels.
• Beware of suspicious links and attachments: Avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources.
• Never share personal information: Protect your credit card numbers, bank account details, and other sensitive information.
• Report scams: If you encounter a suspicious message, report it to the Income Tax Department or relevant authorities.