Fake Tax Notice Email Scam by SMS

How it looks by SMS, the red flags and what to do.

SMS scams lean on short, urgent lines and a shortened link. The message looks official because the sender name (header) is shaped to resemble a real organisation. Fake Tax Notice Email Scam is one of the ways this shows up: An email with a tax notice or demand pushes you to open an attachment or pay a penalty. See how fake notices steal logins and how to check real ones.

What fake tax notice email scam looks like by SMS

• A shortened or oddly spelled link that does not match the real website.
• A request to call a number, install an app or share an OTP.
• Several near-identical messages arriving together from different senders.

The scammer copies the style of tax department emails, with a case number and an official-sounding subject such as 'Final notice under verification'. The sender's address looks close to a real government domain. Salaried people, small business owners and senior citizens receive the message, especially around due dates when worry about returns is already high.

Red flags to check on the text message

• A tax notice that arrives with a link or attachment and a deadline of hours.
• A sender address that is close to, but not exactly, a government domain.
• A login page reached from an email, asking for the OTP.
• A penalty demanded by UPI to a personal name.
• The message asks for an OTP, PIN, card number or password.
• It threatens blocking, arrest, disconnection or a fine unless you act at once.

What to do

1. Do not open the attachment or link. Log in to the official portal by typing its address.
2. Check the notices and e-proceedings section of your own account.
3. Ask your tax professional to review any notice before replying.
4. Report the sender on the Sanchar Saathi portal (Chakshu facility) and block the number.
5. Delete the message and tell family members who may get the same text.
6. Do not reply, do not tap the link and do not call the number in the message.

You can report suspicious SMS and calls on the Sanchar Saathi portal (Chakshu facility) of the Department of Telecommunications.

If money or a code is already gone

1. Change your portal and email passwords from a clean device.
2. Call 1930 and report at cybercrime.gov.in if you lost money.
3. Tell your bank on the number printed on your card if card or bank details were shared.
4. Check your registered mobile number, email and bank account on the portal.

National Cyber Crime Helpline: 1930; report at cybercrime.gov.in.

Safeavio's link check can look at the link in a tax email before you open it and warn about lookalike domains, shortened links and risky patterns, and the scam check on pasted email text marks the threat, the deadline and the penalty demand. It cannot open attachments for you or log in to the portal, so check notices only inside your own account.

Full guide: Fake Tax Notice Email Scam: how it works, signs and what to do. Other channels: email, WhatsApp, phone call.

Questions