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Is this GSTIN real or fake?

ScamShield AI is a free tool to check a GST number for a fabricated or altered GSTIN. It validates the 15-character structure, the state code, the embedded PAN format and the official check digit — instantly. Live verification against the official GST registry is coming.

By Darshil Thummar, MSc Information Security & Digital Forensics · CTO, ScamShield AI
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15 characters. We validate the state code, the embedded PAN and the official check digit, entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is sent, stored, or logged.

A new vendor sends an invoice with a GSTIN that looks perfectly valid. Weeks later your input-tax credit is reversed, because the registration was cancelled or the number never belonged to that firm. Separately, a threatening “GST demand notice” lands in your inbox warning that your registration will be cancelled within 24 hours unless you pay. Both are common ways Indian SMEs lose money and trigger real compliance trouble.

ScamShield AI checks the facts a busy accounts team cannot verify at a glance. It checks the GSTIN for structural signs of fabrication, and it reads any demand notice or income-tax letter for the tell-tale signs of a forgery, before you pay or transact.

How to check a GST number and spot a fabricated GSTIN

Check a GST number for fabrication

Paste a 15-character GSTIN and its structure is validated — state code, embedded PAN format and the official check digit — so a fabricated or altered number is caught instantly. Live registry status is coming.

Fake GST demand notices

Upload a demand notice and ScamShield AI checks the document reference number against valid formats and flags coercive deadlines like “GSTIN will be cancelled in 24 hours” that genuine departments never use.

Income-tax & CBDT letter checks

Income-tax correspondence is read the same way: the CBDT and CBIC reference formats, the sender, and the tone of the demand are all analysed for forged reference numbers and signs of impersonation.

Spoofed government domains

Any link in the notice is checked against the official gst.gov.in. Lookalikes such as gst-verify-portal.in that harvest payments and credentials are caught before your team clicks.

What the check tells you about the GSTIN

How does ScamShield AI check a GSTIN?

Illustrative example of the engine’s output on a forged GST demand notice.

HIGH RISK · 90/100Category: GST impersonation (CAT-01)
  • The notice links to a spoofed domain, gst-verify-portal.in, not the official gst.gov.in.
  • The document reference number does not match a valid CBIC format.
  • A coercive deadline, “GSTIN will be cancelled in 24 hours,” is a known impersonation tactic.
✓ Verdict in < 3 seconds ✓ Nothing stored

How to check a GST number before you invoice or pay

1

Paste or upload

Paste a GSTIN, or upload the GST demand notice or income-tax letter into the Universal Scanner. No setup, no IT team.

2

Format + notice check

Checks the GSTIN's format and check digit. It does not confirm the business is registered. The ScamShield AI model also checks the notice format, reference number and linked domains.

3

Decide with confidence

Get a verdict with plain-English reasons and the fraud category before you pay a notice or onboard a vendor.

Questions about checking a GSTIN and a GST notice

How do you verify a GSTIN?

Paste any 15-character GSTIN into the Universal Scanner and ScamShield AI validates its structure, the state code, the embedded PAN format and the official check digit — a fabricated or altered number is caught instantly. Live verification against the official GST registry, including registration status and filing history, is coming.

Can you tell if a GST demand notice is fake?

Yes. Upload the notice and ScamShield AI checks the document reference number against valid CBIC and CBDT formats, verifies that any links point to the official gst.gov.in and not a lookalike domain, and flags coercive deadlines such as “your GSTIN will be cancelled in 24 hours” that genuine departments do not use. You get a risk score with plain-English reasons.

Do you also check income-tax letters?

Yes. Income-tax correspondence and CBDT letters are checked the same way as GST notices: the reference-number format, the sender and any linked domain, and the tone of the demand are all analysed for signs of impersonation. Nothing you upload is stored beyond the verdict.

How do I check if a GST number is real?

Paste the 15-character GST number into the free checker on this page. It confirms the length and layout, that the first two digits are a valid GST state code, that characters 3 to 12 form a correctly structured PAN, and that the final check digit matches the other 14 characters. A number that fails any of these was fabricated or mistyped. The check runs entirely in your browser and nothing you type is sent or stored.

Does this confirm the GSTIN is registered and active?

No. This is a structural check only. It confirms the number is well-formed and internally consistent, which is enough to catch a fabricated or altered GSTIN, but it does not confirm that the GSTIN is currently registered, that the registration is active rather than cancelled, or that the business behind it is genuine. Live verification against the official GST registry, including registration status and filing history, is coming. To confirm registration today, check the number on the official GST portal at gst.gov.in.

Which plans include the GSTIN checker?

The GST number check and GST notice verification are available on both the Starter and Professional plans through the Universal Scanner. The structural GSTIN check on this page is free and needs no account. Start with a 30-day free trial. No card required.

Verify before you pay or transact.

Check any GSTIN, GST demand notice or income-tax letter free during your trial. Verdict in seconds.

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✓ 30-day free trial ✓ ₹1 verification, auto-refunded ✓ Servers in India
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