Be Aware of Tax Season Scams!
With the income tax return (ITR) filing season underway, the Rajasthan police’s cybercrime branch is warning the public about a sharp rise in online scams. Fraudsters are preying on people with fake promises of tax refunds, urgent PAN-Aadhaar linking, and profile verifications.
How Scammers Operate:
- Phishing: You may receive fake emails, texts, or calls claiming you have a pending tax refund or an error in your ITR. They’ll ask you to click a link that leads to a fraudulent website designed to steal your personal information like your PAN, Aadhaar, bank details, passwords, and OTPs.
- Malware: Be cautious of emails with attachments that look like ITR receipts. Downloading these can infect your devices with malicious software.
- Social Media Scams: Watch out for fake refund offers circulating on WhatsApp and other platforms. These often use forged logos or QR codes to appear legitimate.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Only use the official website: Always go directly to the official income tax portal at incometax.gov.in for any tax-related services.
- Verify everything: Carefully check the sender’s email address and never click on unfamiliar links or scan QR codes from unknown sources.
- Never share personal information: The income tax department will never ask you for sensitive details like your OTPs or bank account numbers over the phone, email, or text.
Stay safe and be vigilant against these scams during tax season.