The Enforcement Directorate is facing a unique problem and is solving it digitally. Problem? Crooks are sending fake ED summons and extorting money from innocent victims. Solution? Unique QR-coded summons.
Summons issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) as well as the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) will now have QR codes. According to the ED, the recipient can verify the genuineness and authenticity of the summons by scanning the QR code which will direct them to the ED portal where the details of the summons can be viewed by entering a passcode.
The QR code mechanism came about after 10 members of an interstate gang were arrested for allegedly trying to extort Rs 15-20 crore from senior officials of Nippon Paints. The fraudsters were trying to settle a fake ED case.
The agency then issued a statement urging people not to fall prey to scammers impersonating their officials. It asked people to check the authenticity of summons and other documents issued by the agencies.
Delhi Police arrests other members including kingpin Akhilesh Mishra; One of them came in a car with a Government of India sticker.
The ED has listed two ways to verify the summons – verification through the QR code or verifying by feeding the details of the summons.
One can scan the QR code printed on the summons which will redirect the user to the ED’s website, and enter the unique passcode on the summons which will show the contents of the summons. One can also visit the url – https://enforcementdirectorate.gov.in/, click on ‘Verify Your Summons’ menu which will redirect the user to the ED website page, where he/she can enter the summon number. Unique passcode printed at the top of the summons and at the bottom of the summons.
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