Income Tax Department Issues Alert: Beware of Fake ITR Refund Messages and Phishing Scams
The Income Tax Department has issued a strong warning to taxpayers about a surge in phishing scams related to Income Tax Return (ITR) refunds. Cybercriminals are reportedly sending fake emails and messages claiming to offer refunds in order to steal personal and financial information.
How the Scam Works
According to the Income Tax Department, fraudsters use fake email IDs such as donotreply@incometaxindiafilling.gov.in to target unsuspecting taxpayers. These messages often claim that there is an error in the filed ITR or that a refund is pending due to calculation issues.
The scam message typically contains a malicious link. Once the recipient clicks on the link, they are redirected to a fraudulent website that asks for sensitive details such as bank account numbers, Aadhaar information, passwords, and OTPs. This data is then used to commit financial fraud.
Official Statement from the Income Tax Department
The department clarified that it never asks for personal details like passwords, OTPs, or bank information through phone calls, emails, or SMS.
In a recent post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the department urged taxpayers to:
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Avoid clicking on suspicious links in emails, WhatsApp messages, or SMS claiming to be from the Income Tax Department.
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Trust only official emails from domains ending in
@incometax.gov.in. -
Report any phishing attempt to webmanager@incometax.gov.in.
Warning Signs of a Phishing Email
Taxpayers can protect themselves by watching out for these red flags:
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Emails or messages claiming urgency, such as “Your ITR refund is delayed – click here to claim.”
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Requests for sensitive information such as bank details, Aadhaar numbers, or OTPs.
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Links that redirect to domains not matching the official government website.
Steps to Protect Yourself from ITR Fraud
The Income Tax Department has shared guidelines to help taxpayers stay safe:
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Do not click on links from unknown sources or suspicious messages.
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Verify the sender’s email address carefully before responding.
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Report phishing attempts to the official email address: webmanager@incometax.gov.in.
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Access your ITR details and refund status only via the official website: incometax.gov.in.
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Never share bank details, passwords, or OTPs with anyone over phone or email.
Why the Threat is Rising
Officials noted that phishing scams tend to spike during the peak ITR filing season, when more taxpayers are engaged in online return submissions. Fraudsters exploit this period to trick people into believing that their refunds are delayed or require urgent action.
Bottom Line
With the rise in digital tax filing, phishing attacks have become more sophisticated. The Income Tax Department’s latest advisory serves as a timely reminder for taxpayers to remain cautious, verify all communication, and rely solely on official channels for any ITR-related updates.
Stay alert, stay safe – your financial security depends on it.
