Is an income tax refund message on WhatsApp real? A Jammu Cyber Cell Police warning reported by Akashvani on 7 August 2024 cautioned people about messages claiming a refund and urging them to call a number or click a link. Do not follow those instructions or share personal or financial details through a message link. Check your refund by signing in to your own account on the official Income Tax Department portal.
Is this income tax refund message on WhatsApp real?
The warning concerned messages that claimed the recipient was due an income tax refund and prompted them to call a phone number or open a link. Akashvani reported the Jammu Cyber Cell Police advisory on 7 August 2024; it should not be mistaken for a newly issued warning in 2026. The original police advisory was not located, so the details here are attributed to Akashvani’s report. Read the Akashvani report.
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A refund claim in a message is not proof that a refund is due. The Income Tax Department says it does not request detailed personal information by email and advises people not to reply to suspected phishing communications, open their attachments, or click their links. Treat an unsolicited WhatsApp refund message that asks you to act through a link or phone number with the same caution.
Should I click the link in an income tax refund message?
No. Do not tap a suspicious link, call the number in the message, reply, open attachments, or enter credentials, bank details, identity information, or one-time passwords on a page reached from it. The Income Tax Department’s phishing guidance states: “The Income Tax Department does not request detailed personal information through e-mail.” See the department’s phishing guidance.
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Check a refund through your own e-filing account
Open the Income Tax Department portal independently by typing its address into your browser or using a trusted bookmark, then sign in to your own e-filing account to check your tax and refund information. The department has previously clarified that refund messages asking taxpayers to follow a link were fake and said personal details should be updated through the taxpayer’s own e-filing account. Read the department’s clarification published by PIB. That historical notice does not establish that every later message is fake; it reinforces why a message link should not be used to verify a refund.
How do I report a fake income tax refund message?
Use the reporting route that matches what happened. The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal distinguishes between reporting a suspicious identifier and reporting cybercrime as a victim.
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| Situation | What to do | Route |
|---|---|---|
| You received a suspicious message and want to report its number or link | Submit the relevant identifier, such as the WhatsApp number, website URL, or phone number, using the portal’s “Report Suspect” facility. | National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal |
| You lost money, disclosed information, or otherwise became a cybercrime victim | Report the incident through the national portal or call 1930. | cybercrime.gov.in or 1930 |
| You suspect your Income Tax e-filing account was misused | Contact the concerned police or cyber-cell authorities first. The department says an online criminal complaint or FIR may also be filed through the national portal. | Income Tax Department account-misuse guidance |
The portal’s “Report Suspect” facility accepts identifiers including WhatsApp numbers or Telegram handles, website URLs, phone numbers, email IDs, SMS identifiers, and social media URLs. For victims, the portal directs people to report cybercrime at cybercrime.gov.in or by calling 1930. The police advisory as quoted in Akashvani’s report said: “People are advised to report any cyber crime on the toll-free number 1930 and visit the website www.cybercrime.gov.in.”
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What information should I keep when reporting?
Keep the message and useful identifying details so you can provide them to the appropriate reporting channel. Do not click the link or interact with the sender to gather more information. Depending on what you have, note or save:
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- The sender’s WhatsApp number or profile details.
- The message text and the date and time it arrived.
- The suspicious website URL or phone number included in the message.
- Any evidence of a payment, disclosure of information, or unexpected account activity if you were affected.
Do not post sensitive personal or financial information publicly. If your e-filing account may have been accessed or altered, follow the department’s instruction to report the suspected misuse to police or a cyber cell first.
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- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
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