Don't click 'here' for refunds!
Many people get conned in the name of income tax refund. How is this fraud happening? How can you save yourself from this fraud? Also how can you get right information related to income tax refund.
Sachin got a message on his phone. He opened his phone and started reading the message.
Dear XXXXX
Your income tax refund of 24,435 INR is processed and ready for disbursement. Kindly click http://204.44.124.160/ITR to submit a refund application to enable us make your payment at the earliest.
Regards,
Refund Dept.
Sachin clicked on the link and a few minutes later he was shell-shocked. He called his friend Priya and told her that he had been defrauded.
Just like Sachin, you can also become a victim of such fraud. Many people get conned in the name of income tax refund. How is this fraud happening? How can you save yourself from this fraud? Also how can you get right information related to income tax refund.
If you receive any such email or SMS, an immediate alert should be raised. Cybercriminals are sending fake messages or emails to people containing a link. The same thing happened with Sachin. In this message or email, it is claimed that the link belongs to the Income Tax Department. Click on it to verify your bank account details for ITR refund.
When you click on the link, a page will open that looks exactly like the Income Tax e-filing page. On this page, you will be asked to enter personal details to claim income tax refunds. Personal details such as your full name, PAN card details, Aadhaar number, bank account details, ATM card PIN, etc., will be requested.
After entering the details, the webpage will prompt you to install an app. Once installed, the app asks for device administration rights and many other permissions. As soon as you grant these permissions, within a few minutes, your bank account will be emptied.
If you receive an email or SMS with a link, forward it to the Income Tax Department. You can send an email to webmanager@incometax.gov.in. In this email, you can forward the link. Additionally, you can also file a complaint with CERT-In. CERT-In is the national nodal agency responsible for handling cybersecurity incidents. You can forward the link to incident@cert-in.org.in via email.
Besides these options, you can also lodge a complaint by calling Dial 1930 or emailing at cybercrime.gov.in.
If you want to know about your income tax refund status, you can visit the official website of the Income Tax Department at www.incometax.gov.in. After that, click on “Know Your Refund Status.” In this section, enter your PAN, Assessment year, and mobile number. Write the given captcha. Click on “Submit” or “Check Status.” After this, the status of your refund will be displayed in front of you.
However, the Income Tax Department and banks constantly send alerts to customers regarding such cyber frauds. Despite this, taxpayers are still falling victim to such scams. Therefore, if you have filed your ITR and are waiting for a refund, any information you receive will come through the official website of the Income Tax Department. Know that for a refund, you do not need to enter your bank details separately at any other place or download any third-party app. So, stay vigilant and protect yourself from such fraudsters.