Most individuals would have encountered a situation where
there are emails and messages sent to them asking for personal information and
they constitute an effort to commit a fraud. While many routes can be clearly identified
as belonging to this category, often the situation is such that the position is
not clearly distinguishable.
In many cases there is a fear created in the mind of the individual and they
results in giving up some details that proves to be a costly mistake. Here is a
way in which this happens and ways to tackle this effectively.
Tax department route: While there are various routes by which the individual is
asked for personal information, one common way is to lure them with the promise
of a prize or large sums of money. This makes various people greedy to get the
amount, and hence, they give information about their bank details. In many
cases they also end up transferring money to the people asking for the
information as an initial payment to release the so-called prize.
Having heard a lot of such cases, people now know that this is something that
is to be avoided. Now another route that is being used is to make it seem as if
the information requirement is coming from the income tax department. On hearing
the details of the income tax department, there is a fear that spreads through
many people and they readily part with the asked information.
No information asked: One of the things that have to be understood is that
there is never any personal information that is asked by the income tax
department through emails and phone messages. Many people say that the received
email asked for their bank information for transferring refunds.
It has to be known that the details about the refund are taken at the time of
the filing of the income tax returns. There is space in the income tax return
form where all the details about the bank have to be given, and hence, same
information is never required again.
Overall policy: One way in which this situation can be avoided is by ensuring
that you do not share any sensitive information with anyone. Once it is decided
that there will not be any information given, there has to be a study of what
is being required and who is actually asking for the information. When this is
done, it will be seen that the email from which the information is being
desired is not an email ID of the tax department but one that actually makes it
look like that.
The other thing to see is that the income tax website specifically warns that
they do not ask for any information, and hence, any such details required are
actually a fraud that is being perpetuated.
Intimation: There are several incidents when the authorities ask the
individuals to give them details about some specific activities so that they
can take action on the same. This is usually done in the form of a written
communication sent to their home address or address mentioned in the income tax
records.
This is a part of the income tax assessment process and meant to be submitted
to the tax department for enabling them to complete their work. This has to be
considered separately from the financial records that are demanded. Being clear
on this point and by undertaking adequate due diligence, it will also clear the
situation as to which of the requirements is genuine and which needs to be
avoided.
### Do you share any such information online? ###
### Do you share any such information online? ###
I would avoid online banks.
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