Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Manzoorul Haq Malik, acting president of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), referring to the news item that appeared in local newspapers has said that the business community is perturbed and has urged the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Tariq Mahmood Pasha to take immediate measures to stop illegal/fake emails being issued by unscrupulous elements for their ulterior motives using name and logo of FBR, to the taxpayers and asking them to claim tax refunds as the tax paid in their electronically filed tax return is more than their tax liability.

He urged the authorities to take stern action against such elements to remove the confusion prevailing in the business community of the country and restore the confidence of the taxpayers in the taxation system.

The FPCCI acting president elaborating the electronics tax fraud to extort money from a taxpayer in the name of tax refunds said that fake emails are sent to the taxpayers, using FBR name and logo illegally, from the different email addresses i.e other than FBR email address, wherein the taxpayers are informed that due to FBR miscalculation of tax, the amount deposited by them (assesses) in their tax return are more than their liability and assesses are asked to click the link “Claim My Refund”. He said, “The system upon clicking the link shows FBR page containing its official logo and name and logo of the five private Banks are appeared. When the logo of any one of the banks is clicked, account log-in page is opened which seeks the option of registration of direct login or credit login.”

The FPCCI acting president showed his grave concern over access of private information of the taxpayers to these unscrupulous elements. He said that electronic frauds are very common in world and responsibility lies with the tax department to ensure proper security of the confidential data of the taxpayers.

Manzoorul Haq Malik recalled that earlier in July 2017, the fraud mafia was active to cheat the taxpayers as well, however, after taking necessary measure by the FBR, these illegal activities were stopped. He demanded FBR to create proper security protocol to avoid such malpractices.

Published in Daily Times, September 20^th 2017.