NEW DELHI: Have you received an email asking you to download your e-PAN card? If yes, you are advised to ignore it. The Press Information Bureau’s Fact Check unit has issued a warning against such messages, confirming that they are fake.⚠️ This Email is #Fake, PIB Fact Check said in an advisory shared on social media, along with a screenshot of one such phishing email. The fraudulent message, titled “Download e-PAN Card Online: A step-by-step guide”, comes from an unauthorised address and is designed to trick recipients into clicking malicious links.According to the advisory, users must not respond to any emails, links, calls, or SMS that request financial or personal information such as bank details, PIN numbers, or passwords.The Income Tax Department clarified that:

Phishing emails typically pretend to be from authorised institutions and may contain links or attachments that can infect your computer. The department has outlined the following safety guidelines:

If you suspect an email or website to be fraudulent:

What is phishing? Phishing is a fraudulent practice used to steal sensitive information like usernames, passwords, and credit card details by posing as a legitimate and trusted source in digital communications. Cybercriminals often impersonate banks, popular social media platforms, e-commerce sites, online payment services, or IT administrators to deceive recipients.These deceptive messages—usually sent via email or instant messaging—often direct users to fake websites that closely mimic the appearance of genuine ones, tricking them into entering confidential information.