DGGI Takes Action Against Fake Summons, Urges Taxpayers to Verify Communications

New Delhi: In a recent development, the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI), under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), has raised concerns about fraudulent individuals issuing fake summons to taxpayers. The DGGI has noted that these fraudulent summons, which may appear authentic due to the presence of a Document Identification Number (DIN), are not authorized by DGGI.

To address this alarming issue, the DGGI is proactively taking substantial measures. The department is actively informing and filing complaints with the police against those responsible for generating and dispatching these deceptive and unauthorized summons.

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, through Circular No. 122/41/2019-GST dated 5th November 2019, has previously provided guidelines for the generation and quoting of DIN on communications sent by CBIC officers to taxpayers. In an effort to raise awareness among taxpayers, it is emphasized that individuals can verify the authenticity of any communication, including summons, from the Department. This can be done by utilizing the ‘VERIFY CBIC-DIN’ window on the CBIC’s website or the DIN Utility Search available on the online portal of the Directorate of Data Management (DDM), CBIC.

To further protect themselves from potential scams, individual taxpayers who receive suspicious or potentially fake summons from DGGI/CBIC formations are encouraged to immediately report them to the relevant jurisdictional DGGI/CBIC office. This step is crucial for verification, allowing necessary actions to be taken against those involved in these fraudulent activities. The DGGI assures the public that they are committed to maintaining the integrity of their communication channels and will continue to take stringent measures to counteract fraudulent attempts.