Urgent Alert: Protect Yourself from Income Tax Refund Scams
The Income Tax Department has issued a strong warning about a new wave of phishing scams targeting taxpayers. Fraudsters are sending fake emails that promise an income tax refund to trick you into giving up your personal and financial information.
How the Scam Works
Scammers send emails that look like they’re from the official Income Tax Department. They claim there’s an error in your tax calculation and that you’re owed a refund. To get the refund, they urge you to click on a link or provide your bank details, passwords, and other sensitive information. Clicking these links can lead to your data being stolen.
How to Spot a Fake Email
You can easily identify these fraudulent messages by checking a few key details:
- Check the Sender’s Email: The official Income Tax Department will only send communications from the domain @incometax.gov.in. Be on the lookout for fake domains, such as the recently flagged
donotreply@incometaxindiafilling.gov.in. - Look for Suspicious Links: Never click on links in an email you were not expecting. Scammers use these links to trick you into entering your confidential information on a fraudulent website.
- Requests for Confidential Details: The Income Tax Department will never ask for your bank account details, Aadhaar number, passwords, or OTPs via email, phone, or SMS.
Protect Yourself
Follow these simple rules to stay safe:
- Do not click on any suspicious links or attachments in emails or text messages claiming to be from the tax department.
- Verify the sender’s email address immediately. If it’s not from
@incometax.gov.in, it’s a scam. - Never share confidential information like your bank account number, passwords, or OTPs.
- Report any phishing attempts to
webmanager@incometax.gov.in.