If you’ve filed your Income Tax Return (ITR), be on the lookout for a new phishing scam. The Income Tax Department has issued an alert about fraudulent emails promising tax refunds. Scammers are impersonating the department to trick you into revealing personal and financial information.
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Fraudsters are using a fake email ID, donotreply@incometaxindiafilling.gov.in, to send emails to taxpayers. These emails falsely claim there’s been an error in calculating your tax and a refund is due. They include a link that you’re urged to click to “claim” your refund. This is a phishing attempt to steal your confidential data. The I-T Department emphasizes that it will never ask for sensitive information like passwords, OTPs, or bank details via email, phone, or text message.
How to protect yourself
Follow these simple steps from the I-T Department to avoid getting scammed:
- Don’t click suspicious links: Be extremely cautious of any links in emails, texts, or WhatsApp messages claiming to be from the I-T Department.
- Verify the sender’s email: Always check the email address. The official domain is @incometax.gov.in. Be wary of any misspellings.
- Report phishing attempts: If you receive a scam email, report it to webmanager@incometax.gov.in.
- Never share personal information: Do not give out your bank details, Aadhaar number, passwords, or OTPs to anyone over the phone, in a text, or in an email.
- Go directly to the source: If you’re concerned about your ITR or a potential refund, log in directly to the official Income Tax portal at https://www.incometax.gov.in instead of clicking a link in an email.
Stay vigilant and protect your information.
