The Income Tax Department has issued a significant warning to taxpayers about a new scam involving fraudulent communications regarding tax refunds.
As the tax filing season approaches, scammers become more active. They may call, send emails, or show pop-up messages claiming that taxpayers are entitled to a refund.
These scams often come in the form of emails informing taxpayers that they are due a refund, sometimes specifying an amount, such as Rs 15,000.
Recipients are then directed to check their bank account through fake links or to provide personal details, leading to financial fraud. The Income Tax Department has emphasized that they do not request credit card numbers or PINs via email or phone calls. In a recent tweet, the department warned taxpayers to be cautious of such messages and to verify any communications through official channels.
They appealed their followers not to respond to messages or click on links that could lead to phishing sites. Taxpayers should only focus on the content within the official ITR acknowledgment attachments. For any fake emails or messages, the Income Tax Department has requested that people forward them directly to their office.
Any suspicious emails should be forwarded to webmanager@incometax.gov.in and incident@cert-in.org.in. This helps the relevant authorities track and address these scams more effectively.