City Police Alert On Tax Refund Malware | Kolkata News
KOLKATA: Have you received an email from the “income tax refund department”, informing you of a windfall after you filed your returns? Think before you click on the link. It’s a nationwide fraud that has been operating each year since 2018.
This year, Kolkata Police’s detective department has issued a detailed advisory against new malware — a banking Trojan software — that lures people to submit their bank details for income tax refund. “Do not click on any link received via text message, disguised as a message from the income tax department,” said an officer from anti-bank fraud section, adding that those carrying banking transactions using Android phones are more prone to such fraud.
“The usual modus operandi of these fraudsters is sending threat messages (for not filing the IT return yet) or offering huge refunds. People need to be on their guard now since the last day of filing returns is approaching,” said an official from the vigilance wing of a private bank.
“Since 2020, a new form of mobile banking campaign using Drinik Android malware has been spotted targeting Indian banks customers,” an expert stated.
Some of the other modus operandi used by fraudsters include asking the user to fill the ITR with “help from online tax lawyers” and claiming for refunds. “These emails and SMS have a catchy subject line. A link is provided at the end. The user is asked to click on the link. It immediately opens a new website. Information is sought from you — including details of your bank accounts. The user is also asked for his or her Aadhaar number and PAN. All these are secret information and the taxpayer should, under no circumstances, provide it to anyone,” said an officer.
This year, Kolkata Police’s detective department has issued a detailed advisory against new malware — a banking Trojan software — that lures people to submit their bank details for income tax refund. “Do not click on any link received via text message, disguised as a message from the income tax department,” said an officer from anti-bank fraud section, adding that those carrying banking transactions using Android phones are more prone to such fraud.
“The usual modus operandi of these fraudsters is sending threat messages (for not filing the IT return yet) or offering huge refunds. People need to be on their guard now since the last day of filing returns is approaching,” said an official from the vigilance wing of a private bank.
“Since 2020, a new form of mobile banking campaign using Drinik Android malware has been spotted targeting Indian banks customers,” an expert stated.
Some of the other modus operandi used by fraudsters include asking the user to fill the ITR with “help from online tax lawyers” and claiming for refunds. “These emails and SMS have a catchy subject line. A link is provided at the end. The user is asked to click on the link. It immediately opens a new website. Information is sought from you — including details of your bank accounts. The user is also asked for his or her Aadhaar number and PAN. All these are secret information and the taxpayer should, under no circumstances, provide it to anyone,” said an officer.