Income Tax Return Fraud: Taxpayers beware, Waiting for a refund after filing an Income Tax Return (ITR), So be careful. The Income Tax Department has issued a warning regarding fake refund messages.
The tax refund approval messages you receive on your mobile phone or email may be fake. There is a need to be cautious about them.
Do not fall prey to fake pop-up messages
The Income Tax Department has issued a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) appealing to taxpayers not to fall prey to fake pop-up messages.
The department never contacts taxpayers through pop-up windows. If you get any such suspicious pop-up message, close it immediately and complain about it.
Fraud is happening in the name of tax refund
The Income Tax Department has received many complaints in which taxpayers are getting such pop-up messages in which fraud is being done in the name of tax refund approval.
It is written in these messages that your income tax refund of ₹ 15,000 has been approved and will be deposited in your account soon.
An account number is also given. It is written in the message that if the account number is not correct then go to the link and update the bank details.
As soon as a person clicks on this link, his phone gets hacked and cyber criminals steal money from his account.
How to avoid it
Do not pick up calls on unknown numbers: If someone calls you from an unknown number and talks about income tax, disconnect the call.
Do not click on the link: If you get a suspicious link, do not click on it.
Do not share your information: Do not share your bank details, PAN card number, or other personal information with anyone.
Use the official website of Income Tax: Use the official website of Income Tax (incometaxindia.gov.in) for any information.
Register a Complaint Here
The Income Tax Department has said that if any income taxpayer receives such fake messages, they can register a complaint by visiting http://incometaxindia.gov.in/pages/report-phishing.aspx.
Apart from this, you can also contact the Income Tax Department’s helpline number 18001030025/18004190025 and register your complaint.