Be Careful of Income Tax Scams: IT Department Issues Clarification On

The IT Department provided clarification on the surge of fraudulent messages containing the URLs related to taxpayers’ tax returns. In response, they mentioned: We are not sending any messages which contain URLs to the taxpayers. 

The messages which are circulated to the taxpayers are being sent by scammers hence be careful before taking any action. This type of fraudulent message is aimed to fetch the sensitive information of the taxpayers. 

One instance involves messages being sent out to inform recipients regarding the progress of their income tax refund. The messages encourage them to click on a given link for the purpose of submitting a return application. 

In a separate message, individuals are notified of an approved tax refund and are directed to confirm their bank account information by clicking a link included in the message.

The Income Tax Department has issued a cautionary alert to taxpayers regarding such fraudulent schemes. These deceptive messages aim to obtain personal and financial details, potentially leading to identity theft and financial harm for those who fall victim. 

To counter these threats, the department advises people to be vigilant and carefully evaluate the legitimacy of any messages they receive.

In a tweet, the Income Tax Department emphasized, "Beware of scammers trying to obtain your bank account details through misleading links. Stay cautious and verify the genuineness of messages.

Moreover, the income tax authorities shared a format of the fraudulent messages which seems like this: 

“Dear Income Tax Payer your income tax of refund 35,425 IN is processed and ready for disbursement. Kindly click http://204.44.124.160/ITR to submit a return application to enable us to make your payment at the earliest.

Regards, Refunds Dept.”

Another message read” Dear Tax Payer, your income tax refund of Rs. 15,480 has been approved and your bank a/c will be credited shortly. Do kindly verify your a/c no 5XXXXX6755. If the same is incorrect, quickly follow the link

below to update your bank record on file https://bit.ly/20wpYK6 

If you too get such a message then make sure not to respond to them and Stick to official channels for communication from the Income Tax Department. Be cautious of unsolicited messages with links. In today's digital world, stay aware, verify messages, avoid suspicious links, and don't share personal info online. It's crucial to protect yourself from scams.

Also Read: After the imposition of 28% GST, online money gaming companies face substantial tax demand of Rs 45,000 crore

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