Did you receive a mail about e-PAN card download? Don’t fall for it, warns PIB

PIB Fact Check has issued a warning on social media, urging the public to be cautious when receiving emails that appear to be from the Income Tax Department. These emails often claim to offer services such as downloading an e-PAN and may attempt to collect sensitive personal or financial information. Authorities have advised that such messages could be fake and part of phishing attempts.

Income tax department never asks personal details via email

The Income Tax Department has clarified that it does not request detailed personal or financial information via email. It never asks for PIN numbers, passwords, or access credentials for bank accounts, credit cards, or other financial platforms. Individuals are strongly advised not to engage with such communications.

What do if you receive a suspicious link

According to information available on the official website of the Income Tax Department, if you receive an email claiming to be from or associated with the Department, do not reply to the message, open any attachments, or click on any links, as these may contain malicious software or lead to phishing websites designed to steal confidential information. Even copying and pasting suspicious links into a browser can be dangerous, as phishing websites may appear legitimate while redirecting users elsewhere. It is also advised to use updated antivirus software, antispyware, and a firewall to help protect your device from such threats.

How to report phishing attempts

Suspected phishing emails or websites impersonating the Income Tax Department should be forwarded to webmanager@incometax.gov.in, with a copy to incident@cert-in.org.in. You may forward the message as received or include the internet header, which helps trace the source. Once reported, delete the message from your inbox.

Phishing emails unrelated to the Income Tax Department should be reported to incident@cert-in.org.in.