By Admin 
ITR Fake Message: When you file ITR, the wait for the refund sometimes becomes longer. In such a situation, if suddenly a message comes on the mobile that “Your refund is pending, do this immediately”, then it is natural to feel nervous. But this panic is becoming the biggest weapon of cyber thugs. There has been discussion regarding delay in refund for some time and many taxpayers have also filed online complaints.
Why are refunds delayed?
It has been clarified by the Government and Income Tax Department that refund is issued only when complete verification and data matching is done. If any kind of irregularity or gap in the data is found, the process can be lengthy. According to officials, in most cases the refund is processed within a few weeks, but in some cases additional verification is required. This uncertainty gives fraudsters the opportunity to commit fraud.
How is fraud happening?
Cyber criminals send fake SMS, e-mails and phone calls claiming that your refund is pending. In these messages, a suspicious link is given and a warning is given that if immediate action is not taken, a penalty may be imposed. In a recent case, a taxpayer shared his personal information by clicking on one such link, after which he suffered a loss of about Rs 1.5 lakh.
Department’s warning: After this incident, the Income Tax Department has issued a fresh alert warning people not to click on any suspicious link or share their banking or personal details.
How to stay safe?
- Login only on the official portal.
- Do not click on any unknown link.
- Check refund status only on official website.
- Do not take any decision in panic.
- Report suspicious messages to the Income Tax Department.
Remember, the Income Tax Department never asks for your confidential information or bank details through SMS or e-mail. Be alert, stay safe.
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