TL;DR: Tax filing season builds toward the July deadline, when taxpayers expect communication from the department. The Income Tax Department never asks for banking details or an OTP by SMS or email — file and check refund status only through the official incometax.gov.in portal.
Tax filing season builds toward the July deadline, when taxpayers expect communication from the department.
How the Scam Plays Out
Fraudsters send SMS and email phishing links claiming a refund is pending or a return needs urgent correction, directing users to a fake e-filing login page designed to steal PAN, Aadhaar, and banking details.
How to Protect Yourself
The Income Tax Department never asks for banking details or an OTP by SMS or email — file and check refund status only through the official incometax.gov.in portal.
If this looks similar to something else you've seen, it's worth reading IPL Betting App Scams.
This pattern shows up elsewhere too — see Monsoon Insurance Claim Scams.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does this typically happen?
Tax filing season builds toward the July deadline, when taxpayers expect communication from the department.
What tactics are used?
Fraudsters send SMS and email phishing links claiming a refund is pending or a return needs urgent correction, directing users to a fake e-filing login page designed to steal PAN, Aadhaar, and banking details.
How can I protect myself?
The Income Tax Department never asks for banking details or an OTP by SMS or email — file and check refund status only through the official incometax.gov.in portal.
What should I do if I’ve already been targeted?
Stop all payments immediately, contact your bank or card issuer to see if a transaction can be reversed or flagged, and report the incident to the appropriate consumer protection body.