Worried about UPI scams? These 5 tips will help keep your money safe

Here are five safety tips from NCPI to make your UPI transactions safer.

UPI PIN is not required to receive money

Many scammers steal money by telling people that they need to scan a UPI code to receive money, which is not true. According to NCPI, scanning QR codes only lets you make payments and not receive money, so the next time someone tells you to scan UPI because they want to send you money, most likely its a scam.

Enter UPI PIN only to pay for things

Another common tactic used by tricksters is that they might ask you to enter your UPI PIN so you can receive money. However, NCPI says that UPI PIN is only used to deduct money and not receive it.

Check the receiver’s name before sending money

More often than not, people forget to check for the receiver’s name before sending them money. This is pretty common if you are at a shop with multiple QR codes on the wall. So, the next time you are making a UPI payment to someone you don’t know, make sure you ask if the QR code you just scanned is actually theirs.

Avoid sharing UPI PINs

While this may not be a commonly used trick, scammers might sometimes ask users to download an app where they need to enter their UPI PIN to complete a transaction. If this happens to you, make sure you check the authenticity of the payment app before entering your payment credentials. Also, make sure you enter your UPI PIN only on the app’s PIN page and avoid jotting it down somewhere else.

Don’t download screen-sharing apps

If you get a message from someone you don’t know with links to screen-sharing and message forwarding apps, first ask them what it does and why they need access to your device. Always remember, that no legitimate organisation will ever ask users to share OTPs or any confidential details, or app over the phone.

Lately, a number of tricksters are asking unsuspecting users to install screen-sharing apps to steal banking information like login credentials and card numbers. This scam is pretty common amongst people who ask users to download and install unknown apps on their device on pretext of offering online jobs.

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