1. The ITR filing session is in full swing. Taxpayers who have already filed their returns are eagerly waiting for their refunds. Meanwhile, fraudsters are actively targeting them with fake emails falsely claiming to offer income tax refunds.
2. Y had filed her return well before the due date, and according to her computation, she was eligible for a refund of Rs 50,000. One morning, she received an email claiming to be from the Income Tax Department: –
Dear Taxpayer,
This is an official notification regarding your Income Tax Refund for the Assessment Year 2025-26, with an eligible amount of Rs 50,000.
The message further reinforced its authenticity by citing the necessity of manual verification: –
Why manual verification? As per the latest RBI & PMLA norms, all refunds above Rs 25,000 require recipient confirmation to prevent unauthorized payouts and protect taxpayers.”
3. This message prompted Ms. Y to click on a link and fill out personal or financial information. She downloaded the attachment for “manual verification” or “e-verification and followed the instructions—only to later realise that it was a fraudulent message. Unfortunately, by the time she understood the truth, it was too late. Instead of receiving her refund, she ended up losing her hard-earned money to cyber fraud.
4. The government’s PIB Fact Check Unit has confirmed that this is a fake email and has advised people to refrain from clicking on suspicious links or sharing personal, financial, or sensitive information through email, SMS, or call.
A critical alert has been issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB). The PIB has unequivocally stated, “This email is FAKE! Do NOT click on suspicious links or share personal, financial, or sensitive information via email, SMS, or call.”
The Income Tax department may request personal information via email; however, it never sends emails soliciting your PINs, passwords, or any similar access details for credit cards, banks, or other financial accounts.
5. Income Tax Department Advisory on Phishing Emails: The Income Tax Department has issued a strong advisory urging taxpayers to stay alert against phishing emails that falsely claim to be from the Department. Upon receiving suspicious emails, taxpayers are advised to follow these important guidelines.
Do’s
(a) Verify the sender’s email address – Always check if the email comes from a legitimate government domain (e.g., @incometax.gov.in).
(b) Report phishing attempts – Forward the suspicious email to phishing@incometax.gov.in.
(c) Access the Income Tax portal directly – Type the URL (https://www.incometax.gov.in) into your browser instead of clicking on links in emails.
(d) Look for grammatical errors – Poor language and formatting are often signs of phishing.
(e) Update your contact details – Ensure your mobile number and email registered with the IT department are current, to receive official alerts.
× Don’ts
(a) Don’t click on unknown links or attachments; these could install malware or steal your data.
(b) Don’t share your PAN, Aadhaar, bank details, OTPs, or passwords – The Income Tax Department never asks for such information via email or phone.
(c) Don’t be fooled by urgent or threatening language – scammers often try to induce panic to get you to act quickly.
(d) Don’t ignore your instincts – if something feels off, it probably is.
(e) Don’t delay in reporting – Timely reporting can prevent further misuse and help others stay safe.
6. Protective Measures: Use updated antivirus software, anti-spyware, and a firewall. These tools can help block malicious content and unauthorized tracking on your device.
7. PIB has also provided a crucial resource for reporting such incidents. Citizens who receive suspicious emails or messages are advised to report them immediately by visiting the official Income Tax India website:https://incometaxindia.gov.in/pages/report-phishing.aspx.
8. Forward such suspicious emails or website links to:
(a) webmanager@incometax.gov.in
(b) incident@cert-in.org.in
9. Include the email header to help identify the source.
10. After forwarding, delete the suspicious email from your inbox.
Conclusion: The government urges all taxpayers to remain vigilant, verify the authenticity of any communication claiming to be from the Income Tax Department, and report suspicious emails without delay. A few moments of caution can prevent significant financial loss.
The message from Income Tax India and PIB is clear: “Stay alert, stay safe.” By adhering to these guidelines and being aware of common phishing tactics, individuals can protect themselves from falling victim to these pervasive cyber scams.
Disclaimer: This article is intended solely to spread awareness and provide general information.
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The author can be approached at caanitabhadra@gmail.com
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