Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Jul 23: As income tax return (ITR) filing season gains momentum, cybercriminals are preying on unsuspecting taxpayers with deceptive emails posing as communication from the Income Tax Department.

Fraudsters are circulating emails claiming to initiate ‘manual verification’ for tax refunds many of which mention amounts exceeding Rs 25,000 to lure recipients into clicking on malicious links. The emails are designed to look official, often using fake I-T Department branding to mislead users.

These phishing emails ask taxpayers to verify documents or click on a link to proceed with the refund process. In reality, the links are traps meant to steal sensitive information such as bank account details, credit card numbers, and login credentials.

The Press Information Bureau (PIB) has issued a strong advisory warning the public to stay vigilant. “This email is FAKE! Do NOT click on suspicious links or share personal, financial, or sensitive information via email, SMS, or call,” PIB said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

How to identify phishing emails:

• Sensitive data requests: The I-T Department never asks for bank details, passwords, or PINs via email.
• Suspicious email addresses: Always verify if the sender's domain ends with .gov.in.
• Poor formatting: Watch out for spelling mistakes or odd punctuation.
• Unexpected links or attachments: These could contain malware or redirect to fake websites.

Safety guidelines from the I-T department:

• Do not reply to suspicious emails claiming to be from the department.
• Avoid clicking on links or opening attachments.
• Never share financial or login details.
• Use updated antivirus and firewall protection.
• If you suspect a phishing attempt, report it at: https://incometaxindia.gov.in/pages/report-phishing.aspx

Taxpayers are advised to check refund status only via the official e-filing portal. If an email or message promises unexpected returns, it’s likely a scam.