Cybercriminals Exploit with Latest Tax Refund Fraud
Today, we’re going to talk about your hard-earned money! Cybercriminals have found a new way to steal your money, and it has to do with your income taxes. So, let’s talk about what’s going on and how you can stay safe.
To understand this more easily Picture this: You just sent in your Income Tax Return (ITR) for the year 2022-2023. You finished it by the deadline, which was July 31, 2023. What, though? Some cybercriminals are ready to strike as soon as tax season is over. They’ve come up with a way to make people think they’re getting a tax refund, which is like getting some of the money you paid in taxes back.
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Believable Text
These hackers are sending out SMS messages that look like they are from the Income Tax Department. The messages tell you that you are due a refund and tell you how much you should get back. To get the refund, they also want you to make sure that your bank account information is up to date. They put a link in the message to make it seem real.
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Demanding your Bank Account Numbers
Here’s where things get really hard. The link they give you in the SMS takes you to a page where they ask for information about your bank account. If you aren’t careful and click on that link, you might give these cybercriminals information about your account. They want access to your account so they can empty it.
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Warning signs and safety measures
Don’t let go! You need to know some important things to stay safe:
- Income Tax Department Doesn’t Send Links: The real Income Tax Department doesn’t send messages with links asking for your account information. They will only send you a message when your refund has been put back into your account.
- Portal Power: Don’t click on any links if you want to know if you’ll get your money back. Sign in to the official Income Tax Portal instead. If your refund has been taken care of, it will be there. Don’t bother with tricky links!
- Stay sceptical: If you get a text message or email that seems strange, don’t click on anything right away. Take a moment to think, and keep in mind that the Income Tax Department won’t send you an SMS or email asking for your bank account information.
- Check and double-check: If you’re still not sure, talk to someone you can trust. If the message is real, they could already know about it.
- Keep your software up to date: For security, make sure that your phone and computer have the most recent updates. This can make it harder for cybercriminals to get in.
Don’t forget that your money and information about you are valuable. Don’t fall for cybercriminals’ tricks and give them access. Be careful, learn as much as you can, and keep your money safe from these digital thieves and save yourself from these ITR Scams!
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