The Press Information Bureau (PIB) has issued a critical alert following the circulation of a fraudulent email claiming to be from the ‘Income Tax Department’.
Designed to mislead citizens into clicking suspicious links or divulging sensitive personal and financial information, this email has raised serious cybersecurity concerns.
PIB has issued a clear and unequivocal warning, “This email is FAKE! Do NOT click on suspicious links or share personal, financial, or sensitive information via email, SMS, or call.”
📩 Received an email from the ‘Income Tax Department’ asking for manual verification❓#PIBFactCheck
❌This email is FAKE!
❌ Do NOT click on suspicious links or share personal, financial, or sensitive information via email, SMS, or call.
🚨Report such phishing attempts here:… pic.twitter.com/trK7moACJY
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) July 19, 2025
This alert serves as a timely reminder of the importance of vigilance when dealing with unsolicited communications purporting to come from official government bodies.
The scam email attempts to exploit public trust in government communications—particularly those concerning finances—by urging recipients to perform a ‘manual verification’.
This false sense of urgency is a common phishing technique aimed at tricking individuals into responding without proper scrutiny.
Once clicked, the suspicious links may lead to identity theft, financial fraud, and other serious cybercrimes.
Authorities remind citizens that the genuine Income Tax Department or any legitimate financial institution will never request sensitive data—such as bank account numbers, passwords, or credit card details—via email, SMS, or phone call.
Any such request should be treated with extreme suspicion.
Guidance for the Public
To combat these malicious attempts, the PIB advises citizens to:
- Always double-check the sender’s email address and watch for inconsistencies or unusual phrasing.
- Avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources.
- Verify communications by visiting the official website of the concerned department directly.
- Report suspicious messages immediately via the official Income Tax India website.
The combined message from PIB and Income Tax India is clear: ‘Stay alert, stay safe’.
By staying aware of common phishing strategies—and taking straightforward protective measures—individuals can significantly reduce their risk of falling victim to these pervasive cyber scams.
Approach every unsolicited message with caution, and when in doubt, verify authenticity through official channels.
Also Read: PIB Fact Check Debunks Fake Video Claiming Loss Of S-400 System To Chinese Missiles
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