New Delhi, – In a big push to protect people from cheating and money extortion, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has started adding QR codes and special passcodes to all its official summons. This new step will help anyone quickly check if a summons is real or fake. At the same time, the government has once again warned that no agency like ED, CBI or police ever does “digital arrest” through phone or video calls.
The news came directly from the office of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), her office shared details about rising cases where fraudsters send fake ED notices that look exactly like real ones. These cheats use the fake papers to scare people and demand money.
“Many people are getting fake summons in the name of ED. These look so real that it’s hard to tell the difference. To stop this, ED now sends only system-made summons with a QR code and a unique passcode,” the statement said.
This is not the first time ED has done this. Back in October 2025, the agency had already started this system, but now they are reminding everyone again because fake cases are still happening a lot.
How the New QR Code System Works
If you get a summons from ED, don’t panic right away. Just follow these easy steps to check if it’s real:
- Scan the QR Code: Use your phone camera or any QR scanner app. It will take you straight to the official ED website verification page.
- Enter the Passcode: There will be a unique passcode printed at the bottom of the summons. Type it on the website under the ‘Verify Your Summons’ section.
If it’s real, the website will show details like your name, the ED officer’s name, designation, and the date of summons. You can do this check only after 24 hours of the summons being issued (not on holidays or weekends).
For old-style summons (not made through the new system), you can call or email Assistant Director Rahul Verma at ED headquarters in Delhi. His email is adinv2-ed@gov.in and phone is 011-23339172.
As the Finance Ministry said in its statement: “Summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate can be verified using the QR code printed on them or by visiting the official ED website.”
Strong Warning: No Such Thing as ‘Digital Arrest’
Fraudsters are getting smarter. They call people on phone or video, pretend to be from ED, CBI, Police, Customs or even RBI, and say “You are under digital arrest”. They keep the person on call for hours, scare them about money laundering or parcel with drugs, and force them to transfer money to “clear” the case.
The government is clear: “The Enforcement Directorate never conducts arrests digitally or online.”
“There is no digital arrest or online arrest under any law. Real arrests happen in person, with proper papers and procedure,” the ministry warned.
Citizens should stay alert and never share bank details, OTP or transfer money on such calls. If anyone claims to be from ED and asks for money, it’s 100% fraud.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also talked about this in his Mann Ki Baat last year, asking people to “Stop, Think and Act” before believing such calls.
Why These Frauds Are Rising
In the last one year, thousands of people have lost crores of rupees to these scams. Many cases start with a fake courier call saying a parcel in your name has drugs or illegal items. Then they transfer the call to “senior officer” from CBI or ED who puts you under “digital arrest”.
As per the Indian Constitution, police and public order are state subjects. So, state police handle most cyber crimes. But the central government helps with money and training. The Ministry of Home Affairs has set up Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to fight such frauds across the country.
If you get such a call, immediately dial 1930 or report on www.cybercrime.gov.in.
TRAI’s New Rule to Stop Fake Bank Calls
Just a day before this ED warning, on November 19, 2025, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) made a big rule for banks and financial companies.
All banks, insurance firms, mutual funds and stock brokers must start using special phone numbers starting with ‘1600’ for official calls and messages.
Why? Because fraudsters call from normal 10-digit numbers and pretend to be from your bank. With ‘1600’ series, you will know it’s a real call from a regulated bank or finance company.
Deadlines are fixed:
- Big commercial banks: By January 1, 2026
- NBFCs, payment banks: By February 1, 2026
- Smaller banks, cooperative banks: By March 1, 2026
- Mutual funds and pension funds: By mid-February 2026
Already 485 companies have started using more than 2800 such numbers.
“This will help people trust real calls from banks and stop cheats,” TRAI said.
What Experts and Officials Say
A senior Finance Ministry official told reporters: “We are seeing more and more smart frauds. But with QR code on summons and clear warnings, people can protect themselves easily.”
A cyber police officer from Delhi said, “Every week we get 20-30 complaints of digital arrest. People lose lakhs because of fear. Remember – no government officer will ever ask for money on phone.”
Nirmala Sitharaman’s office post ended with: “Stay vigilant. Do not fall prey to such fraudsters.”
How to Stay Safe – Simple Tips
- Never believe calls saying you are under arrest online.
- Real ED or CBI never calls and asks for money transfer.
- Always verify summons on official website.
- Look for ‘1600’ numbers when banks call from 2026.
- Report fraud immediately on 1930.
These steps by ED and TRAI show the government is serious about stopping financial frauds that hurt common people the most.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why has ED started putting QR codes and passcodes on summons?
Fake summons have become a big problem. Cheaters make notices that look exactly like real ED papers – same logo, format and language. They send these to scare people into paying money. To stop this, ED now makes all summons through a computer system. Every real summons has a QR code and a unique passcode. This is like a security seal. Anyone can check in seconds if it’s real or fake. This system started in October 2025 and the government reminded everyone again on November 20 because fraud cases are still high.
2. How do I check if an ED summons is real or fake?
Very simple – two ways:
Way 1 (Fastest): Open your phone camera or QR app and scan the black square QR code on the summons. It will open the official ED page. Enter the passcode written at the bottom. If real, it will show your name, officer details and date.
Way 2: Go to https://enforcementdirectorate.gov.in yourself. Click on ‘Verify Your Summons’. Put the summons number and passcode.
You can check only after 24 hours (not on Saturday, Sunday or holidays). If still doubt, call Assistant Director Rahul Verma on 011-23339172 or email adinv2-ed@gov.in.
3. What exactly is ‘digital arrest’ and why is it a scam?
Digital arrest is a new trick by fraudsters. They call you and say: “A parcel in your name had drugs/illegal things” or “Your bank account is linked to money laundering”. Then they say “You are under digital arrest – stay on video call, don’t talk to anyone”. They keep you scared for hours or days and force you to transfer money to “safe accounts” or buy gift cards.
It’s 100% fake. No law in India allows arrest on phone or video. Real arrest means police come to your house with warrant. ED, CBI or any agency never asks money on call to “close” a case.
4. What should I do if I get a ‘digital arrest’ call?
- Don’t panic.
- Don’t transfer any money or share OTP/bank details.
- Hang up and call 1930 (cyber helpline) or go to www.cybercrime.gov.in and report.
- Tell family or friends right away.
- If they say don’t tell anyone – that’s the biggest red flag!
5. Will the new ‘1600’ numbers stop all bank fraud calls?
Not all, but a lot. From 2026, real calls from banks, insurance or mutual funds will come only from numbers starting 160…. You can trust those more. Normal 10-digit calls claiming to be from bank might be fake. But still verify big transactions yourself by visiting branch or official app.
6. Who handles cyber fraud cases in India?
State police handle most cases because police is a state subject. But centre helps with I4C (Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre). They block fake numbers fast and coordinate with banks to freeze cheated money.
These small steps can save you from big loss. Stay alert, verify everything, and report fraud fast – that’s the best protection.