The Income Tax Department has issued a clear warning to taxpayers about a growing number of tax refund scams. These scams involve fraudulent calls and pop-up notifications, especially on social media, falsely claiming eligibility for a tax refund.

Taxpayers are being urged to be extra careful when dealing with any communication that seems to come from the Income Tax Department.

It’s crucial to double-check and verify any messages or emails before responding. Under no circumstances should individuals share sensitive information like credit card details or bank account numbers in response to such messages.

A common tactic used by scammers is sending messages that claim, “Income Tax Refund is Due.” These messages are often fake and designed to trick recipients into revealing personal details. Scammers may pose as officials from the Income Tax Department and use various methods such as phone calls, text messages, or phishing emails to convince people that they are owed a refund. These fraudulent schemes are intended to steal personal and financial information, putting individuals at risk.

For example, one of the scam messages might say: “You have been approved an Income Tax Refund of Rs 15,000. The amount will be credited to your account shortly. Please verify your account number 5XXXXX6777. If this is not correct, please update your bank account information by visiting the link below.” The link provided in such messages often leads to fake websites designed to steal your information.

The Income Tax Department has made it clear that they never ask for personal information through email. They do not request PIN numbers, passwords, or any sensitive data related to credit cards, banks, or other financial accounts. If you receive such a request, it is almost certainly a scam.

How to report fraud and scams?

If you come across an email or website that you suspect is pretending to be from the Income Tax Department, you should forward the email or website URL to webmanager@incometax.gov.in. Additionally, you can send a copy to incident@cert-in.org.in for further investigation.

The Income Tax Department has also advised that refund details are only communicated through official Income Tax Return (ITR) acknowledgment attachments. They do not send this information through individual messages or phone calls to protect your privacy and security.

Here are some simple steps to avoid falling victim to these scams:

• Do not reply to any suspicious emails.
• Avoid opening attachments from unknown sources, as they might contain harmful software.
• Do not click on links in emails that seem to be from the Income Tax Department. Scammers often use fake links that redirect to malicious websites.
• Keep your computer safe by using and regularly updating anti-virus software, anti-spyware tools, and a firewall. These precautions can help protect your device from harmful software in phishing emails.

By following these guidelines and staying alert, taxpayers can protect themselves from falling victim to these scams.