The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) recently issued a warning to taxpayers about the emergence of fake GST summons being circulated by fraudsters. In response to this, the CBIC has urged taxpayers to exercise caution and verify the authenticity of any communication received from GST authorities to avoid falling victim to scams.
Fake GST Summon: Why In The News?
The CBIC highlighted that the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) has observed instances of individuals with fraudulent intent creating and sending fake summons to taxpayers. These individuals may or may not be under investigation by the DGGI. The fake summons appear authentic as they include a Document Identification Number (DIN); however, these DIN numbers are not issued by the DGGI for these entities. To address this issue, the DGGI is taking serious measures, including informing and filing complaints with the police against those involved in creating and sending fake and fraudulent summons.
How To Verify GST Summons?
To ensure the legitimacy of a GST summon, taxpayers are advised to verify its authenticity before responding. Scammers often use fake summons to defraud unsuspecting taxpayers. The CBIC recommends using the ‘VERIFY CBIC-DIN’ window on the CBIC’s website or the DIN Utility Search on the online portal of Directorate of Data Management (DDM), CBIC, to confirm the genuineness of any communication, including summons, from the department.
Report Fake Summons
In the event that individual taxpayers receive summons from DGGI/CBIC formations that seem suspicious or potentially fake, the CBIC encourages them to immediately report such instances to the concerned jurisdictional DGGI/CBIC office. This proactive reporting will facilitate verification, and necessary action can be taken against those responsible for these fraudulent activities.
In conclusion, with the rise of fake GST summons, it is crucial for taxpayers to be vigilant and verify the authenticity of any communication from GST authorities. By utilizing the verification tools provided by CBIC, individuals can protect themselves from falling prey to scams and contribute to the efforts against fraudulent activities.
