Income Tax Department Warns Taxpayers Against Fake Emails and SMS Scams

The Income Tax Department has issued an important public advisory urging taxpayers to remain alert against fraudulent emails, SMS messages, and other digital communications falsely claiming to originate from the department. The warning comes amid a rise in cyber fraud attempts aimed at stealing personal and financial information from taxpayers.

According to the advisory shared by the Income Tax Department, scammers are sending fake messages impersonating tax authorities to deceive individuals into sharing sensitive details such as OTP numbers, bank account information, passwords, and other confidential data. The department has clarified that taxpayers should never disclose such information in response to unsolicited communications.

The department has advised citizens to verify the authenticity of any tax-related communication only through the official Income Tax portal (incometax.gov.in). Taxpayers who receive suspicious emails or messages are encouraged to report them immediately by emailing webmanager@incometax.gov.in and marking a copy to incident@cert-in.org.in.

The Income Tax Department emphasized that staying vigilant against cyber fraud is essential for protecting financial and personal data. The advisory reinforces the message: “Think Before You Click – Stay Tax Smart, Stay Safe.” CASANSAAR