Income-Tax Department warns taxpayers against fake messages and phishing scams

The Income-Tax Department issued a public advisory cautioning taxpayers against fraudulent SMS and emails claiming refund eligibility or account verification. It urged users to rely only on the official e-filing portal and verified communication channels. The notice forms part of the Department’s cybersecurity initiative to combat rising digital-fraud attempts during tax season. The advisory underscores the government’s emphasis on data privacy, secure authentication, and taxpayer awareness in digital-governance infrastructure.