Jaipur: The cybercrime branch of the Rajasthan police issued a warning Friday about the sharp rise in online frauds during the ongoing income tax return (ITR) filing season. Criminals are tricking people with false promises of tax refunds, urgent PAN-Aadhaar linking, and profile verification. The police have urged the public to stay cautious and avoid falling prey to these scams.According to officials, fraudsters are sending fake emails, text messages, and making calls that claim a person’s tax refund is pending or their ITR contains errors. Victims are often asked to click on a link that redirects them to websites designed to look like the official income tax portal. These phishing websites collect sensitive personal data, including PAN, Aadhaar numbers, bank account details, login passwords, and OTPs.In some cases, people receive emails with attachments disguised as ITR receipts. These files, when downloaded, can infect phones or computers with malware. The police also noted a surge in fake refund offers being circulated via WhatsApp and other social media platforms. Messages in such scams often carry forged logos or QR codes to appear legitimate.To stay protected, the cybercrime branch advises users to only use the official income tax website — incometax.gov.in — for any tax-related services. They should verify the sender’s email address carefully, never share personal details like OTPs or account numbers, and avoid clicking on unfamiliar links or scanning QR codes from unknown sources.
