Taxpayers Targeted by Scammers Posing as Tax Officials

As the 2025 tax filing season is in full swing, scammers have become increasingly active and creative in their attempts to defraud taxpayers. Over the past few weeks, several individuals across the country have reported receiving fake calls and emails from individuals claiming to be officers from the Income Tax Department or the Reserve Bank of India.

These fraudsters often use threats of legal action or urgent warnings to trick unsuspecting taxpayers into sharing sensitive personal and financial information. Experts warn that falling for such scams could lead to serious financial loss and misuse of personal data.

The scammers typically reach out through various channels, including emails, phone calls, text messages, and even WhatsApp video calls. They introduce themselves as tax officials and claim that the taxpayer is facing a serious tax violation. To make their claims appear genuine, they use fake ID cards and fabricated case numbers.

In many cases, the fraudsters pressure the victims to share bank account numbers, one-time passwords (OTPs), or credit card details under the guise of "verification." However, the Income Tax Department never asks for such sensitive information through email or telephone. Any request for personal financial details should be treated as a strong warning sign of a potential scam.