Fake Income Tax Emails Circulate: Fraudulent ‘Penalty Notice’ Targets Taxpayers

A fraudulent email disguised as an official communication from the Income Tax Department is being widely circulated, alarming taxpayers. The scam email falsely claims to be a “Tax Compliance Deficiency and Penalty Notice” and threatens legal action under provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961 if recipients fail to comply.

The email alleges irregularities under Section 271(1)(c) of the Act and instructs taxpayers to submit documents within 72 hours. It provides a malicious link for downloading a “required documents list.”

Clicking the Link Shows Fake ‘Office Memorandum’

When unsuspecting users click the download link, they are directed to a fraudulent Office Memorandum, which closely mimics official government documentation. The fake notice reiterates the demand for documents, cites Section 276C for prosecution, and falsely bears the name of a non-existent officer, Raj Kumar Sharma, Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax.

The memorandum even uses a forged government-style email ID (acit.enforcement@incometax.gov.in) to appear credible.

Red Flags in the Scam

• Sender’s email originated from a foreign domain (so-net.ne.jp), not an official Indian government domain.
• The link redirects to a counterfeit notice, designed to intimidate taxpayers.
• The fake documents use fear tactics by citing penalties and prosecution.
• Genuine communication from the Income Tax Department is sent only through @incometax.gov.in addresses and can be accessed securely on the official e-filing portal.

Advisory to Citizens

Authorities and cybersecurity experts are warning taxpayers not to click any links, download attachments, or share sensitive details in response to such emails. Instead, taxpayers should:

1. Delete the fraudulent email immediately.
2. Verify all tax notices directly on the official Income Tax e-filing portal (www.incometax.gov.in).
3. Report phishing attempts at cybercrime.gov.in.

Conclusion

This phishing scam highlights the increasing sophistication of online frauds targeting taxpayers. Vigilance and verification are the only safeguards. Taxpayers must remember that all legitimate notices from the Income Tax Department will always be available on the official portal, and never via random links or downloads.

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