ITR filing: Check these 7 tips to avoid scams

The ease of completing our tasks online at the click of a button has made life easier for us. However, it has also paved the way for cyber crimes with the intention of stealing your personal information or money.

During the tax filing season, scams are on the rise, targeting people as they prepare to submit their Income Tax Returns (ITR).

According to the State Bank of India's report, as of December 31, 2023, 82 million ITRs had already been filed for the Assessment Year 2024, and the number was expected to exceed 85 million by the end of the financial year.

The government's push to get more people to pay taxes has resulted in a nearly 90% increase in the number of individual tax returns filed between 2013-14 and 2021-22. This surge has also provided scammers with an opportunity to target taxpayers using emails and messages that try to exploit their sense of urgency or catch them off guard.

These include methods such as fake tax notices to urgent emails, making it crucial to be aware of the risks when dealing with tax matters online.

Watch out for fake IT notices and calls - Scammers often pretend to be from the Income Tax (IT) Department, sending fake notices through texts and emails.Vipin Surelia, Head of Risk Services at Visa India and South Asia,

"If you receive an email claiming to be from the IT Department or asking you to visit their website, don't respond. Avoid opening any attachments as they might contain harmful software. Always verify the legitimacy of notices marked as 'overdue' or 'pending' before taking any action. Authenticate all IT Department notices through the official portal: www.incometax.gov.in, under the tab - Authenticate notice," said Vipin Surelia, Head of Risk Services at Visa India and South Asia.

Use secure payment methods - When making online tax payments, stick to secure methods like credit or debit cards.

"These cards come with extra security features like tokenisation, which prevents your personal data from being shared with third parties, along with strong mechanisms for complaint redressal," said Surelia.

Turn on alerts - Set up transaction alerts on your card or payment app to get notified of any suspicious activity. Regularly check your account statements and report any transactions you didn’t authorise.

Confirm requests - Before making any payments, double-check the legitimacy of the request, especially if it's unexpected, from unknown sources, seems overly urgent, or threatens legal action.

Keep personal info private - Avoid sharing sensitive information such as card details, PINs, or CVV numbers. Use secure e-filing services, steer clear of public WiFi networks, and activate two-factor authentication for extra security.

Remove personal info from unreliable sites - Take control of your privacy by deleting your information from shady data broker websites. These sites collect data from public records, loyalty programs, and apps, and sharing your info on them can put your privacy and finances at risk.

"Lastly, using anti-virus software, anti-spyware, and firewalls can protect you from phishing emails containing harmful software. By following these steps and staying informed, you can greatly reduce the risk of falling victim to tax scams and ensure the safety of your finances and personal information," said Surelia.