Qatar’s General Tax Authority warns public over tax refund phishing scam

On February 25, 2026, the General Tax Authority (GTA) in Qatar issued an urgent public warning about fraudulent emails and text messages falsely claiming to represent the Authority.

The alert comes amid a surge in phishing attempts targeting residents with deceptive messages designed to steal personal and financial information.

Details of the scam

According to the GTA, scammers are circulating messages that appear official, using convincing branding and urgent language to pressure recipients into immediate action. These phishing attempts commonly include:

• False claims that individuals are eligible for tax refunds or must urgently “update taxpayer details.”

• Suspicious links directing users to fake websites created to harvest sensitive data.

• Impersonation tactics, including logos and formatting that closely resemble official government communications.

The Authority stressed that these messages are fraudulent and not connected to its official operations.

Official safety guidelines

To protect taxpayers, the GTA outlined several key directives:

• No unsolicited requests: The Authority confirmed it never asks for confidential identification numbers, personal details, or banking information via email or SMS.

• Exclusive platform: All official tax-related services are conducted solely through the Dhareeba Tax Portal and verified communication channels.

• Independent verification: Residents who receive suspicious messages are advised to confirm authenticity directly through the GTA’s official Media Center or approved platforms before taking any action.

• Report and delete: The public is encouraged to immediately delete fraudulent messages and report them to the relevant authorities.

The GTA reiterated its commitment to safeguarding taxpayer data and urged residents to remain vigilant against evolving cyber threats. As digital services expand, authorities continue to emphasize awareness and caution as the first line of defense against online fraud.