Attention taxpayers! Fraudsters trying to cheat in name of GST refunds; check out warning

Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) has warned people to beware of fraudulent websites and not reveal any personal information and bank details on such websites. Identifying one such website https://onlinefilingindia.in, it has said that the said website is trying to bait taxpayers to reveal personal and bank details. The warning has been put on its official twitter handle - GST Tech @ Infosys_GSTN.

The tweet has also been retweeted by by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC). The body is responsible for administering indirect taxes in India. The CBIC works under the aegis of Ministry of Finance.

See Tweet Below:

BEWARE of FRAUD website https://t.co/iowp3KLZFr. It is trying to BAIT taxpayers to reveal personal and bank details. DO NOT respond to messages, mails and lookalike websites which ask for your personal details. @theicai pic.twitter.com/y30mC2Uofx

— GST Tech (@Infosys_GSTN) May 3, 2020

How to safeguard yourself against fake messages on GST returns: 
The official twitter handle of GSTN has also shared some dos and don'ts for tax payers to prevent them from getting trapped.
-- Miscreants are attempting to take undue advantage of Covid-19 crisis by sending out fake messages with phishing links. Fraudulent messages are circulating on WhatsApp, Email and SMS claiming to process GST refunds.  

-- Tax payers are advised to remain cautious against such messages and use GST portal http://www.gst.gov.in for refund application or any other GST related activity.
-- Fraudsters may also pose as tax officials or GSTN personnel and send fake emails asking to urgently verify or update account.
-- GST portal does not ask for personal information, refund details and Know Your Customer (KYC) verification through email, WhatsApp or SMS.

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GSTN is a non-Government, private limited company established under Section 8 of the new Companies Act. It was incorporated on March 28, 2013. The Government of India holds 24.5 per cent equity in GSTN and all States of the Indian Union, including NCT of Delhi and Puducherry, and the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers (EC), together hold another 24.5 per cent. Balance 51 per cent equity is with non-Government financial institutions.