A viral message has been circulating via email, targeting taxpayers by prompting them to download their “E-PAN Card” through a provided link. Given the sensitive nature of Permanent Account Number (PAN) details and the increasing frequency of digital fraud, the message gained significant traction, causing concern among citizens regarding its legitimacy.
Claim The claim is that the government is sending out emails with direct links for citizens to download their E-PAN cards, requiring them to click a link to access the document.
Fact The Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check unit has officially debunked these emails as fake. The government clarified that these messages are part of a phishing attempt designed to steal sensitive financial and personal information. Official E-PAN services are only provided through authorized portals like NSDL or UTITSL, and the government never asks for sensitive data through unsolicited email links or SMS.
Top Three Sources Attributing the Fact:
- PIB Fact Check (Official Social Media/Government Portal): The primary source that flagged the email as a scam.
- NewsOnAIR (Prasar Bharati): Confirmed the government’s warning against responding to these fraudulent links.
- Income Tax Department Guidelines: Official protocols state that PAN-related services are handled via secure, encrypted government-authorized websites, not through random email attachments.
Conclusion (b) False Content The emails are entirely deceptive and were created with the malicious intent of phishing for private user data.
