UPI & OTP Fraud
The scams most likely to cost you real money — and how to stay clear
⚠️ The one rule that stops 90% of UPI fraud
An OTP is never shared with anyone — not a bank representative, not UPI support, not a police officer, not a relative. No legitimate party will ever ask for your OTP.
"Wrong transfer, please refund" scam
A stranger claims they accidentally sent you money and asks you to send it back. There was no real transfer — they sent you a payment REQUEST (collect request), not money. Accepting it or scanning their QR code lets them pull money FROM your account.
🚩 Red flags:
- •Requests you to scan a QR code to 'return' money
- •Sends a payment request instead of actual transfer
- •Creates urgency, pleads for mercy
- •Amount is oddly round (₹5,000 / ₹10,000)
✅ Rule: Never scan a QR code or accept a collect request to return money. To send money, YOU initiate the transfer to their UPI ID.
Fake bank/UPI support call
Someone calls claiming to be from your bank, NPCI, or UPI helpline. They say your account has a problem and ask for your OTP, UPI PIN, card number, or remote access to fix it.
🚩 Red flags:
- •Unsolicited call about your account
- •Asks for OTP, PIN, or CVV
- •Asks you to install AnyDesk/TeamViewer/QuickSupport
- •Says account will be blocked if you don't comply
✅ Rule: Hang up. Call your bank's official number (on the back of your debit card) directly. Banks NEVER ask for OTPs or PINs by phone.
Fake prize / cashback link
You get a link saying you've won a cashback or reward. Clicking it opens a fake UPI or bank page that harvests your login credentials or asks you to 'verify' with your OTP.
🚩 Red flags:
- •Unexpected prize you never entered for
- •Link is not the official app/website domain
- •Asks you to enter UPI PIN or OTP on a webpage
- •Requires 'verification' to claim ₹1 first
✅ Rule: Cashbacks and prizes are credited automatically by real apps — they never ask you to verify with an OTP or PIN on a link.
Got defrauded?
Call 1930 immediately. File at cybercrime.gov.in. Time matters — block the transaction.
📞 Call 1930 now