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#29Working adultsSMSEmailFull guidePrizes, refunds and offers
Income tax refund link
A message says an income tax refund is approved and asks you to confirm bank details through a link.
Community reports: 0
How it works
- A message says your income tax refund of a specific amount is approved and needs your bank account to be verified.
- The link opens a page that copies the tax portal and asks for your bank login, card details or OTP.
- Those details are used to empty your account rather than to credit a refund.
What it looks like
Example messages. Numbers and links are masked.
Dear taxpayer, you are eligible for an income tax refund of Rs 15,490. Please verify your account number: incometax-refund-gov[.]in
Your ITR refund is on hold. Update your bank details within 24 hours.
Red flags
- A refund that needs card details or an OTP
- A link that is not incometax.gov.in
- A deadline to claim the refund
- A message from a mobile number
The one question to ask
Does the income tax department need your card number or OTP to pay you a refund?
Already paid or shared details?
Call 1930 at once: in the first hour the money can often still be frozen before it moves on. Then call your bank on the number printed on your card, and file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in with screenshots of every message and payment.
1930 · cybercrime.gov.in
Also seen as
- GST refund messages to businesses
- Fake EPF withdrawal links