Rs 1.5 lakh tax refund delay scam: How fraud happened, red flags and safety tips to stay cautious

The Income Tax Department last week alerted taxpayers about a tax refund scam where scammers are sending an online link targeting bank accounts. The I-T Department has also asked taxpayers to report such messages to it. A few days after it, Taxbuddy also tweeted about a case where a taxpayer lost Rs 1.5 lakh after falling victim to a fake ‘income tax refund delay’ message. Let’s discuss how this latest income tax refund scam is working, what are the red flags and how can a person report such messages to the Income Tax Department.

Explaining how these scammers target taxpayers waiting for a refund, the I-T Department says such scammers send them messages claiming that their income tax return is delayed, incomplete or stuck. The text will use alarming words like ‘urgent action required’, ‘refund pending’, or the ‘penalty if not verified’’ link will be included in the message.

Once the user clicks on the link, it takes them to a fake website that imitates the original Income Tax website gateway. Victims are then requested to submit personal information, bank account data, PAN number and OTP, says the Income Tax Department in its tweet.

‘Dear taxpayer, your refund is pending. Click now to avoid penalty

http://incometax-refund-claim.xyz’

(Visual labels in the illustration: ‘Refund Pending’, ‘Click Now’, ‘Urgent Action Required’, ‘Important Alert… submit a request for payment of your unclaimed and overdue tax refund.’)

If you receive such suspicious messages

Report at: webmanager@incometax.gov.in
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Mark a copy to: incident@cert-in.org.in
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For assistance, contact helpline:
1800 103 0025 / 080-46122000

* Visit the e-filing portal at incometax.gov.in and login using your ID and password.
* Click on the e-File tab, then Income Tax Returns, followed by View Filed Returns.
* Select your Assessment Year to see the refund status.
* Click View Details to check the complete lifecycle of your filed ITR and track processing stages.