The Income Tax Department has warned taxpayers about a fresh wave of fake refund emails, SMSes, and WhatsApp messages. These messages look official but are actually sent by scammers trying to steal personal and banking details.
How this fraud works
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You receive a message claiming “refund pending” or “refund approved”
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A link is provided to “verify” or “claim” the refund
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The link leads to a fake website resembling the Income Tax portal
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If you enter details like PAN, Aadhaar, OTP, bank account, or password, your data can be misused for financial fraud
Common red flags:
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Spelling or grammatical errors
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Urgent language like “refund will lapse today”
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Unknown or suspicious sender email IDs
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Links that do not end with
incometax.gov.in
What the Income Tax Department says
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No official email, SMS, or call ever asks for:
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Passwords
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OTPs
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Bank details
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Aadhaar information
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Refund status should be checked only on the official portal:
👉 www.incometax.gov.in
What to do if you receive a suspicious message
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Do not click on any links
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Do not share personal or financial details
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Forward the email/message to:
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webmanager@incometax.gov.in -
incident@cert-in.org.in
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This helps authorities track and shut down fraud networks.
How fraud is detected
The department uses AI-based analytics and data profiling, cross-checking:
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Bank transactions
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PAN and Aadhaar databases
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Form 26AS
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Trust filings and financial trails
If irregularities are found, action may be taken under Sections 132 and 133A of the Income Tax Act.
Bottom line
If a message promises a quick refund and asks for sensitive information, it’s almost certainly a scam.
Stay alert, verify only through official channels, and report suspicious communications immediately.
