Learn how to identify fake UPI payment requests, fraudulent apps, and social engineering attacks. Protect yourself from losing money to increasingly sophisticated UPI scams.
🚨 UPI Fraud Alert: Read Before You Pay!
UPI scams are increasing at an alarming rate. In 2024, Indians lost over ₹1,200 crore to digital payment frauds. The good news? Most scams are preventable if you know what to look for.
95% of UPI scams can be avoided with awareness⚠️ Understanding UPI Scams
UPI scams work by exploiting human psychology rather than technical vulnerabilities. The UPI system itself is highly secure—scammers rely on tricking you into voluntarily sending money or sharing sensitive information.
Key Fact: You NEVER need to enter your UPI PIN or approve any request to RECEIVE money. If someone asks you to do this, it's a scam. Period.
Fake Payment Request Scam
Extremely Common🔍 How It Works:
- Scammer contacts you (call/WhatsApp) claiming to send you money
- Says "I'm sending ₹5,000, please accept the request"
- Instead of sending, they create a COLLECT/PAYMENT REQUEST
- Victim sees notification, thinks they're receiving, enters UPI PIN
- Money DEBITED from victim's account instead of credited
🚩 Red Flags to Watch For:
- "Enter your PIN to receive money" — ALWAYS a scam
- Unknown person sending unexpected payment
- Request shows "Pay" instead of "Receive"
- Urgency: "Accept fast, offer expires"
- Amount in request is same as promised "payment"
🛡️ How to Protect Yourself:
- NEVER enter PIN to receive money — receiving is automatic
- Read notification carefully — "Pay" vs "Receive"
- Decline all unexpected collect requests
- Verify sender's identity through other means
- If unsure, check your bank balance before and after
📰 Real Case:
"A Bangalore software engineer received a call from someone claiming to be from a lottery company. They said he won ₹50,000 and just needed to 'accept' the payment. He entered his PIN on the collect request and lost ₹49,999 instantly."
Loss: ₹49,999QR Code Scam
Rising Fast🔍 How It Works:
- Scammer claims to buy something from you (OLX, marketplace)
- Says "I'll send payment via QR code, scan and enter amount"
- Sends a QR code that's actually a PAYMENT REQUEST
- Victim scans, sees pre-filled amount, enters PIN thinking they're receiving
- Money goes TO the scammer, not FROM them
🚩 Red Flags to Watch For:
- "Scan this QR to receive payment" — QR codes are for PAYING
- Amount pre-filled in the QR code
- Buyer insisting on QR over direct bank transfer
- QR sent via WhatsApp from unknown buyer
- Any request to enter PIN for receiving
🛡️ How to Protect Yourself:
- Remember: QR codes are ONLY for paying, never receiving
- To receive money, share YOUR UPI ID or QR code
- Never scan QR codes sent by strangers
- If selling online, always share your UPI ID instead
- Verify payment in bank account before handing over goods
📰 Real Case:
"A Delhi woman selling furniture on OLX was asked to scan a QR code to receive ₹15,000. She scanned it, entered PIN, and ₹15,000 was debited from her account. The buyer disappeared."
Loss: ₹15,000Fake Customer Care Scam
Very Dangerous🔍 How It Works:
- Victim searches "PhonePe customer care" on Google
- Finds fake number posted by scammers (looks official)
- Calls the number, "support agent" answers professionally
- Agent asks for UPI PIN, OTP, or remote access to "fix issue"
- Scammer drains account using the shared information
🚩 Red Flags to Watch For:
- Customer care number found via Google search (not official app/website)
- Agent asks for UPI PIN or OTP — NEVER legitimate
- Request to install AnyDesk, TeamViewer, or similar apps
- Agent creates urgency: "Your account will be blocked"
- Asking to make a "test payment" of ₹1 or ₹10
🛡️ How to Protect Yourself:
- ONLY use customer care from within the official app
- Never share OTP, PIN, or CVV with anyone
- Banks/apps will NEVER ask for sensitive info on call
- Don't trust Google search results for support numbers
- Verify numbers on official company website (type URL directly)
✅ Official Customer Care (Use ONLY These)
PhonePe: Help section in app only
Google Pay: In-app support chat
Paytm: 0120-4456-456 (official)
Banks: Number on card/passbook
OLX / Online Marketplace Scam
Most Common🔍 How It Works:
- Scammer poses as Army/CRPF personnel (to build trust)
- Shows extreme interest in your listing, agrees to price immediately
- Claims they're posted in remote area, can't meet in person
- Asks you to scan QR or accept request to "receive advance payment"
- May send fake payment screenshot as "proof" before you check bank
🚩 Red Flags to Watch For:
- Buyer agrees to price without negotiation
- Claims to be Army/Police personnel (common impersonation)
- Unwilling to meet in person for any reason
- Sends payment "proofs" before you verify in bank
- Requests you to scan QR code to receive payment
- Asks for small "processing fee" first
🛡️ How to Protect Yourself:
- ALWAYS meet in person for high-value transactions
- Use OLX's official payment protection where available
- Never share QR code or accept collect requests
- Verify payment ONLY through your bank app, not screenshots
- Be suspicious of too-good-to-be-true offers
- Don't believe anyone claiming authority (Army, Police)
Screen Share / Remote Access Scam
Most Dangerous🔍 How It Works:
- Scammer calls posing as bank/company support
- Claims there's an urgent issue with your account
- Asks you to install AnyDesk, TeamViewer, or QuickSupport
- Gets remote access and can see everything on your phone
- Watches you enter UPI PIN or does transactions directly
🚩 Red Flags to Watch For:
- ANY request to install screen sharing apps
- Sharing a "9-digit code" with someone on call
- Caller creates urgency about account suspension
- Request comes via call, not official app notification
- Person asks you to open banking apps while sharing screen
🛡️ How to Protect Yourself:
- NEVER install screen sharing apps on anyone's request
- Banks/UPI apps will never ask for remote access
- If you installed by mistake, uninstall immediately
- Never open banking apps while screen is shared
- Report such calls to cybercrime helpline
📰 Real Case:
"A retired teacher in Mumbai got a call about 'KYC verification.' She installed AnyDesk as instructed. Within minutes, ₹3.5 lakh was transferred from her account while the scammer watched her screen and captured OTPs."
Loss: ₹3,50,000Fake UPI App Scam
Technical Fraud🔍 How It Works:
- Scammer creates apps that look like PhonePe, Google Pay, etc.
- These apps generate FAKE payment success screenshots
- Scammer shows fake screenshot to shopkeeper/seller
- Victim believes payment received, hands over goods
- No actual money was ever transferred
Fake Payment Generator
Creates fake success screens
Screenshot Editor
Modifies real screenshots
Fake Notification App
Shows fake bank SMS
🚩 Red Flags to Watch For:
- Customer insists on showing phone screen as "proof"
- Blurry or slightly off-looking payment screenshots
- No SMS confirmation from your bank
- Customer in hurry to leave after showing "proof"
- Transaction not reflecting in your UPI app history
🛡️ How to Protect Yourself (For Merchants):
- ALWAYS verify in YOUR bank app/SMS, not their phone
- Wait for bank SMS confirmation before giving goods
- Use UPI sound notification ("Google Pay - Received ₹X")
- Cross-check transaction ID if suspicious
- For large amounts, wait a few minutes to verify
Fake Reward / Cashback Scam
Greed-Based🔍 How It Works:
- You receive SMS/WhatsApp: "Congratulations! You won ₹10,000 cashback"
- Link leads to fake website looking like Google Pay/PhonePe
- Asks you to enter UPI PIN to "claim reward"
- Or asks for ₹99 "processing fee" to release ₹10,000
- Either money is stolen or personal info harvested
🚩 Red Flags to Watch For:
- Unexpected "prize" or "reward" messages
- Links from unknown numbers (not official short codes)
- Request to pay fee to receive reward
- Urgency: "Offer expires in 24 hours"
- Website URL doesn't match official domain
- Too good to be true amounts (₹50,000 cashback, etc.)
🛡️ How to Protect Yourself:
- If it sounds too good to be true, it is
- Never click links from unknown numbers
- Check rewards only in official app
- You NEVER need to pay to receive rewards
- Report such messages as spam
🏆 5 Golden Rules to Stay 100% Safe from UPI Scams
Remember These Rules — They Will Save You
Never Enter PIN to Receive
UPI PIN is ONLY for sending money. Receiving is automatic — no PIN needed ever.
Never Share OTP/PIN
No bank, UPI app, or customer care will ever ask for your OTP or PIN. Period.
Verify Before You Act
Check your own bank account for payments. Don't trust screenshots or caller claims.
No Remote Access Ever
Never install AnyDesk, TeamViewer, or any screen sharing app on anyone's request.
When in Doubt, Decline
If something feels wrong, stop immediately. Legitimate transactions can wait.
✅ Quick Safety Checklist (Before Any UPI Transaction)
🚔 How to Report UPI Fraud
If you've been scammed or attempted to be scammed, report immediately. Quick reporting increases chances of recovering money.
📞 Where to Report UPI Fraud
📝 Information Needed When Reporting:
- Transaction ID / UTR Number
- Date and time of fraud
- Amount lost
- Scammer's UPI ID / Phone number
- Screenshots of conversations
- Bank statement showing debit
⏰ Time is Critical:
Report within 24 hours for the best chance of freezing the scammer's account and recovering funds. Banks can reverse transactions if reported quickly enough.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
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Verify UPI IDs before sending money to strangers
