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Income Tax Refund Scam: Government Issues Nationwide Warning on Refund Fraud – Here’s How the Scam Works

Vikram Singh

February 22, 2026 at 3:19 PM IST · 3 min read

Income Tax Refund Fraud Warning: If you’ve been waiting for your income tax refund for months, this news may shock you. Recently, fraudsters duped a taxpayer of ₹1.5 lakh by falsely claiming a refund was delayed, prompting the Income Tax Department to issue a nationwide warning.

For the past year, many taxpayers have been complaining on social media about delays in receiving refunds, and now, cunning scammers are exploiting this concern. They’re trying to lure you through fake phishing messages and fake portals. In this article, we’ll explain in detail how this scam works and what you should be aware of to ensure your hard-earned money remains safe.

Learn how these cunning scammers trap you

According to a recent report this scam begins with a seemingly believable message. This message claims that your income tax refund is pending and requires immediate verification to receive it. The message contains a link that looks exactly like the official portal. As soon as you click on the link, you are taken to a fake website that looks exactly like the Income Tax Department’s e-filing portal.

There, you are asked for your PAN number, login ID, and password. Then, in the name of verification, you are asked for an OTP. In some cases, all your bank account details are also requested. As soon as you share these details, the scammers gain complete control of your bank account, and in a flash, the money disappears from your account.

Why are taxpayers so easily deceived?

Refund-related conversations always attract attention. When a message says, “Your refund is about to lapse” or “This is a final warning,” panic can make it difficult for a person to distinguish between right and wrong. Scammers deliberately use language that instils fear.

Income Tax Department never does this

The Income Tax Department has repeatedly clarified that it follows strict rules to protect taxpayers. The department has clearly stated that it never sends refund verification links via SMS. It never asks for OTP, password, or bank details via phone call or message. The only safe way to check your refund status is to log in to the department’s official e-filing portal yourself. Trusting links provided in random emails or messages can be risky.

What to do to protect yourself

If you want to avoid such fraud and check your refund status securely, be sure to follow these steps. Always visit the portal by typing www.incometax.gov.in into your browser. Ignore any messages from unknown numbers, especially those asking for hurried verification. Do not share your login credentials or confidential bank information with anyone.

If you receive a suspicious message or link, immediately report it to the Income Tax Department’s official complaint channel and the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In). Your small report can help prevent major fraud in the future.

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