What it looks like
"Sir, I have sent the payment for your sofa. Just open the request and enter your UPI PIN to receive it." (Illustrative)
How the upi collect request scam works
- The scammer contacts you as a buyer on a marketplace, a refund or cashback agent, or a 'customer care' executive.
- They send a payment request, a QR code or a link, and say it will credit money to you.
- They rush you to approve it and enter your UPI PIN.
- Entering the PIN approves a debit, so money leaves your account.
- They often claim it was a mistake and ask you to try again, taking more each time.
Red flags
- Being told to enter your UPI PIN to receive money
- Being asked to scan a QR code to receive money
- A 'buyer' who agrees to your price at once and wants to pay by request
- A refund or cashback that needs you to approve something
- Pressure to act fast while staying on the call
- The payee name on the screen does not match who they claim to be
What to do
- Decline any request you did not expect. Read the screen: if it says 'Pay', money will leave you.
- Never enter your UPI PIN unless you are sending money you intend to send.
- If money was taken, call your bank and report in your UPI app's help section.
- Report at once: call 1930 (National Cyber Fraud Helpline) or file at cybercrime.gov.in. Speed matters, because reports help freeze money in transit.
- Block the number and report it on Sanchar Saathi's Chakshu facility.
Protect your family
Teach elders and teens one rule: PIN means money going out. If anyone says 'enter PIN to receive', stop and call family.
Also known as: UPI request money fraud, enter PIN to receive money, UPI refund scam
Questions people ask
Do I need to enter my UPI PIN to receive money?
No. NPCI says the UPI PIN is entered only to send money and is never required to receive money.
Are UPI collect requests still allowed?
NPCI stopped person-to-person collect requests from 1 October 2025 to curb fraud, but payment requests from merchant accounts and QR codes still exist. Always read what you are approving.
Can I get my money back after a UPI scam?
Sometimes, if you report fast. Call 1930 or file at cybercrime.gov.in and inform your bank immediately so funds can be traced and frozen.