Income Tax Department Warns Taxpayers Against Fake Messages and Phishing Scams

The Income Tax Department has issued a public advisory in its official X handle, cautioning taxpayers to stay alert against fraudulent emails, SMS, and messages impersonating official communication from the Department. These fake messages are part of phishing scams designed to trick individuals into revealing sensitive personal and financial information such as PAN, Aadhaar, passwords and OTPs.

The advisory urges taxpayers to "Think Before You Click" and verify the authenticity of any communication claiming to be from the Income Tax Department. Scammers often use look-alike email addresses, fake links, or cloned websites to deceive users into sharing confidential data.

"The Department never asks for confidential information like OTPs, PINs, or passwords over email or SMS," the advisory emphasized. Taxpayers are advised to visit only the official website - https://incometax.gov.in - for all e-filing, refund and verification-related activities.

KIND ATTENTION TAXPAYERS!

Beware of Fake Messages!
Scammers may send fake e-mails & SMS claiming to be from Income Tax Department to steal your personal info.

✅ Always check sender ID & website domain
✅ Never share OTPs, passwords or PAN details
✅ Visit only 👉… pic.twitter.com/uRU7ZO6Wpw

— Income Tax India (@IncomeTaxIndia) November 3, 2025

How to Identify Fake Communications

• Check the sender ID and website domain: Authentic messages are sent from domains ending with @incometax.gov.in.
• Avoid clicking on unknown links or attachments: These may contain malware or redirect to fraudulent portals.
• Never share personal details or OTPs: The Income Tax Department never asks for such information via calls, emails, or SMS.
• Report suspicious messages: Taxpayers can forward phishing emails to webmanager@incometax.gov.in.

Why the Warning Matters

The rise in digital tax compliance and e-filing activity has also led to an increase in cyber fraud attempts. With taxpayers increasingly relying on online platforms for filing returns and checking refund statuses, scammers are exploiting this digital shift to target unsuspecting individuals.