Ad Summon or notice received? How to Find If It’s Fake or Real in Two Simple Steps

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has cautioned the public to remain vigilant against fake summons and notices, which are being circulated by fraudsters posing as officials of the agency. It said citizens should not be intimidated by the name of the ED, but should remain alert and verify any summons or notices received through official channels – either by visiting the agency’s website or by contacting official landline numbers.

The ED said some persons are sending fake summons that resemble genuine ones, making it difficult for recipients to differentiate between authentic and fake documents. The agency clarified that valid summons are issued only under Section 50(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, or Section 37 of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

To combat the misuse, ED Headquarters has started checking the circulation of these fake summonses using advanced digital tools. The agency has also introduced a new verification system to help the public confirm the authenticity of any subpoenas they receive.

Every physical summons issued under this system now carries a QR code and a unique passcode, along with the signature, official seal, email address and contact number of the issuing officer. ED officials have been directed to issue summons through this verified system only in special circumstances.

Recipients can verify the authenticity of a subpoena in two steps:

• Scan the QR code printed on the summons, which will redirect to the official website of ED.
• Enter the unique passcode provided on the document in the verification field.

If the details are valid, the system will display key information – such as the name of the person summoned, the name and designation of the issuing officer, and the date of issue – confirming that the summons is genuine.

ED has urged citizens to always verify any suspicious summons through the official QR code and passcode system to protect themselves from fraud and impersonation.