ITR Refund: Beware of Income Tax Refund Scams; Know How to Protect Yourself?
The Income Tax Department issued an alert to taxpayers for them to be wary of scams related to income tax refunds. Income tax refund scams usually come in the form of fake calls or pop-up messages stating that you are due for a refund. Be vigilant and check all communications claiming to be from the Income Tax Department against official sources.
Follow these Tips to Protect Yourself
1. Do not respond: Never reply to emails or access websites asking for credit card numbers, bank details, etc. in response. Corresponding to the email ID provided by you, the Income Tax Department may contact you, but the department never asks for such details.
2. Beware of Hoax Messages: A classic fraudulent message would read, “You have been approved for an Income Tax Refund of Rs.15,000. The amount shall be credited to your account shortly. Please confirm the bank account no. 5XXXXX6777. If this is not correct, please update your bank account information by clicking the link given below.” Let me tell you, this is a fraudulent message.
3. Reporting Suspicious e-Mails and Websites: In case the mail you have received or the website you have accessed is, in your view, impersonating the Income Tax Department you may send the details to “[email protected]” and “[email protected]”. You may forward the full message or include the Internet header information that will help trace the sender. Delete the suspicious message after reporting.
4. Phishing Alerts: If you have received any e-mail that is not related to the processing of your return by the Income Tax Department, then you are requested to forward it to “[email protected]”.
5. Important Reminders: The Income Tax Department does not request detailed personal information such as PIN numbers, passwords or similar access information for credit cards or bank accounts through e-mail.
Safety Tips from the Income Tax Department
- Do not reply to any mail claiming to be from the Income Tax Department without verifying it with the source.
- Attachments in the suspicious e-mail may contain harmful software. So, do not open attachments in these e-mails.
- Do not click on links given in those emails. If you inadvertently click, then don’t fill up your personal and financial information.
- Links from suspicious e-mails should not be copied and pasted directly into your browser. This is because sometimes they will redirect you to the fake site.
- Always keep your computer protected with updated antivirus software, antispyware, and a firewall. This software really helps safeguard your computer from becoming infected/tracked by unwanted programs.
Applying these tips can help to avoid becoming another victim of such income tax refund scams. Be vigilant and check any correspondence about your taxes.
