As the belated Income Tax Return (ITR) filing season continues, the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Commissionerate Police have issued a cyber advisory warning taxpayers about fake Income Tax notices being circulated through WhatsApp by cybercriminals.
According to the advisory, fraudsters are posing as officials from the Income Tax Department and sending deceptive WhatsApp messages containing fake tax notices, malicious links, and harmful file attachments. These messages are designed to trick people into downloading malware or sharing sensitive personal and financial information.
Police urged taxpayers not to download files with .zip or .exe extensions received through unknown or unverified WhatsApp messages, as these files may infect mobile phones or computers with malware.
Once installed, the malicious software can allow cybercriminals to access banking credentials, passwords, and other confidential information, potentially leading to financial fraud.
Avoid Fake Tax Refund Messages
The Commissionerate Police also cautioned people against responding to messages that promise income tax refunds or claim immediate action is required to avoid penalties or resolve tax-related issues.
Taxpayers have been advised to verify the authenticity of any Income Tax notice, attachment, or website only through official government channels before taking any action.
Protect Personal and Banking Information
The cyber advisory stresses that banking details, passwords, one-time passwords (OTPs), and other personal information should never be shared through WhatsApp, SMS, email, or suspicious websites.
Officials said cybercriminals often become more active during tax filing periods, taking advantage of taxpayers who may be expecting genuine communication from the Income Tax Department.
Commissionerate Police Appeal for Digital Vigilance
The advisory is part of the Commissionerate Police’s ongoing cyber awareness campaign to educate citizens about emerging online scams and promote safe digital practices.
Appealing to taxpayers to remain cautious, the police urged people to report suspicious WhatsApp messages or cyber fraud attempts to the appropriate authorities instead of responding to them.
“Awareness is the best defence against cyber fraud. Stay Alert. Stay Safe,” the Commissionerate Police said.
