Scammers are getting more and more bold, and a new post from PIB brings attention to a scam where the fraudsters are impersonating the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to trick people into paying a so-called refundable tax. In the scam the victims receive a fake official-looking letter that claims that Rs 1 lakh of the recipient is being held due to a transaction issue and can only be released after they pay Rs 7,500. If you’ve received such a message, then don’t respond to it. Here’s everything you need to know about the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) refundable tax.
The Press Information Bureau (PIB) has recently warned the Indian citizens of a new scam performed in the name of the Reserve Bank of India. The fact check agency posted a letter that looks like an official letter from RBI stating that the recipient has a payment of Rs 1 lakh on hold because of a transaction issue. It claims that paying a refundable tax of Rs 7,500 will release the amount within minutes. The letter also mentions the bank account details where they want the recipient to send the money too. Lastly, the letter creates urgency as they ask for immediate action.
⚠️Scam Alert!
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) July 17, 2026
🚨 A letter doing rounds on the internet reportedly issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) claims that the recipient must pay a refundable tax amount of ₹7,500 to facilitate the release of a pending amount of ₹1,00,000. #PIBFactCheck:
❌ This letter is… pic.twitter.com/qKfnpQz36Q
The fact check agency has confirmed that the letter is a fake and has no connection to RBI. The authorities also clarified that the central bank does not ask members of the public to transfer money or share personal details through unsolicited messages, emails, or phone calls.
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If you’re someone who has already replied to such messages or sent money, then you should immediately report it to your local police as soon as possible. The fact-check agency said that reporting the incident quickly can help the officials to track the scam and stop others from becoming victims.
Moreover, the authorities also added that people should keep records of such incidents via screenshots, payment receipts, emails, and phone numbers linked to the scam. These details can help authorities during the investigation. If the fraud involves a bank account or digital payment, informing the bank at the earliest is also important.
Digital scams in the country are increasing rapidly, but there are some common tips that you can follow to stay safe against them. The very first being that you should always verify the messages that involve urgent payments with the concerned department or the official website. The message is already a red flag if it asks you for an advance fee, as the government departments and the RBI never ask people to pay money to release funds.
Moreover, you should avoid sharing banking details, OTPs, passwords, or identity documents with unknown callers or through suspicious emails. If you receive a message claiming to be from the government, verify it through official websites or trusted sources.