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Fake collect requests, QR code tricks and 'refund' calls: the patterns behind common UPI fraud.

The one rule to remember

You enter your UPI PIN only when you are sending money. You never need to enter it to receive money. Many UPI scams depend on people forgetting this.

Common patterns

A buyer on a resale website asks you to scan a QR code to 'receive' payment. A caller posing as customer care asks you to approve a collect request for a 'refund'. A stranger asks you to install a screen-sharing app to 'fix' a payment.

In all of these, the pressure to act quickly is part of the trick.

Habits that protect you

Read every payment screen before you approve it: check whether it says you will pay or receive. Decline collect requests from people you do not know. Find customer care numbers only inside the official app or on the official website, not through a web search.

If you lose money

Call 1930 immediately and file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in. Inform your bank and keep all screenshots and transaction details.

Sources & verification

Published
Last updated
Author
Akshay Kumar Sharma
Type
Educational article (not a news report)

Official sources for further reading

This article gives general safety guidance. Please confirm current rules and procedures on the official sites above before acting. Found a mistake or an outdated point? Please tell us through the contact page.

Educational content only. To report cyber fraud in India, use cybercrime.gov.in (opens in a new tab) or call 1930.

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