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Never share your UPI PIN or enter it to receive money: entering the PIN authorizes a payment. Check every payee and amount before you approve a transaction, and contact your bank immediately if your phone is lost or you spot a debit you did not make. These steps reduce risk, but they cannot guarantee that fraud will never occur.
Secure everyday UPI payments
- Keep your UPI PIN, OTP, and banking password private. Enter your PIN only in your payment app when you intend to authorize a transaction. NPCI says bank support will not ask for your UPI PIN. NPCI UPI FAQs
- Check the recipient and amount on the final screen. Pause if the name or amount is unfamiliar, or if someone is rushing you to pay.
- Do not scan a QR code or enter your PIN to receive money. NPCI warns that scanning a QR code and entering a UPI PIN is for making a payment, not receiving one. Treat unexpected cashback, prize, refund, or urgent-verification links with caution. NPCI Fraud Awareness
- Decline unexplained collect requests and payment prompts. Opening a UPI or bank app by itself does not approve a transfer; you must select and authorize a payment request. Do not approve a request you did not initiate or cannot explain. NPCI clarification
- Secure your phone and SIM. Use the phone’s screen lock and keep control of the device and the mobile number registered to your bank. If the phone is lost, ask your mobile operator and bank to block or secure the relevant access.
If your phone or SIM is lost
- Contact your mobile operator and bank promptly using contact details from their official websites, apps, or other trusted material. NPCI advises contacting the bank and blocking the mobile number after phone loss. NPCI UPI FAQs
- Ask the bank how to secure or block UPI access and how to restore it safely. The process differs by bank, app, and mobile operator, so do not rely on a menu path from another provider.
- Monitor account alerts and transactions. If you see a debit you did not authorize, follow the reporting steps below.
What to do about an unauthorized UPI payment
- Tell the account-holding bank immediately. Use its official app, website, phone number, or branch. RBI directs banks to provide channels for reporting unauthorized electronic transactions and to take immediate steps to prevent further unauthorized transactions after notification. RBI customer-protection directions
- Save the evidence and complaint record. Note the transaction reference or ID, date, amount, and any relevant alerts or screenshots. Keep the bank’s complaint acknowledgement; RBI’s directions require an acknowledgement for a complaint.
- Raise the transaction in your UPI app if it offers that option. NPCI’s July 2023 UPI Help guidance describes an in-app route through transaction history, but screens can change. NPCI says complaints about fraudulent, unidentified, or unauthorized transactions should be raised with the user’s bank. NPCI UPI Help-Guidelines · NPCI complaint guidance
- Report online financial fraud through 1930. Call the national cyber-fraud helpline and complete the report through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal as directed. Keep the acknowledgement for follow-up. National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal
- Follow up through the bank’s grievance channel. If the bank does not resolve the complaint, ask it how to escalate. RBI’s timelines and liability protections depend on the circumstances; they are not a promise that every disputed payment will be refunded.
How RBI’s customer-liability rules work
The applicable outcome depends on whether the loss involved bank negligence or deficiency, customer negligence, or a third-party breach where neither the customer nor bank was at fault. RBI’s customer-protection notification is dated July 6, 2017; the bank must assess the facts and the rules applicable to the case. RBI customer-protection directions
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- If the customer shared payment credentials: the customer bears losses until reporting the transaction; losses after reporting are borne by the bank.
- If neither the customer nor the bank was at fault: for a third-party breach reported within three working days of receiving communication from the bank, RBI’s directions provide for zero customer liability. Reporting within four to seven working days can mean limited liability. A later report may be handled under the bank’s board-approved policy.
- For qualifying zero- or limited-liability cases: the bank should provide a shadow credit within 10 working days of notification and resolve the complaint within a period not exceeding 90 days. These are conditional regulatory timelines, not automatic refund guarantees.
Report promptly rather than waiting to determine which liability period may apply. The bank’s official complaint channel is the key route for investigating an unauthorized debit; the UPI app and national cyber-fraud reporting routes serve additional purposes.
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Bestseller No. 1
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Best Value
Thetis FIDO2 Security Key (USB-A, 2-Pack) - Hardware MFA & Passkey Access for Business, School ERP & Employee Accounts | Compatible with Windows, Google Workspace, Apple ID, Coinbase, Salesforce
- FIDO2 & Passkey Ready: Business-ready and FIDO2 L1 certified. This key is supported by major management suites and is ideal for both individual and enterprise deployment. Works seamlessly with Gmail, Facebook, GitHub, Dropbox, Coinbase, and more.
- Universal Connectivity (USB-A ): Features a built-in USB-A connector—simply unfold the key and plug it into your compatible PC or laptop for seamless authentication on the go.
- Dedicated Manager App: Use the Thetis Manager App for the initial hardware PIN setup. Setting the PIN on the device first ensures a smooth registration process. Once the PIN is configured, you can begin registering the key across your favorite FIDO2-compatible online services.
- Ultra-Durable & Portable: Featuring a rotating metal cover, this key is water, crush, and tamper-resistant. It fits easily on a keychain and requires no batteries or network connectivity.
- Check FIDO2 compatibility before purchase - Known limitations: ID Austria is not supported (requires FIDO2 Level 2). Windows Hello login only works with Windows Enterprise editions that support Entra ID, and NFC is NOT supported.
Rank #4
Yubico - Security Key NFC - Basic Compatibility - Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Key, Connect via USB-A or NFC, FIDO Certified
- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The Security Key NFC is the essential physical passkey for protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts.
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single Security Key NFC secures 100 of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more.
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your Security Key NFC via USB-A and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC) to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required.
- TRUSTED PASSKEY TECHNOLOGY: Uses the latest passkey standards (FIDO2/WebAuthn & FIDO U2F) but does not support One-Time Passwords. For complex needs, check out the YubiKey 5 Series.
- BUILT TO LAST: Made from tough, waterproof, and crush-resistant materials. Manufactured in Sweden and programmed in the USA with the highest security standards.
Rank #3
Yubico - YubiKey 5 NFC - Multi-Factor authentication (MFA) Security Key and passkey, Connect via USB-A or NFC, FIDO Certified - Protect Your Online Accounts
- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The YubiKey 5 NFC is the most versatile physical passkey, protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with popular accounts like Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single YubiKey 5 NFC secures 100+ of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your YubiKey 5 NFC via USB and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC), to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required
- MOST SECURE PASSKEY: Supports FIDO2/WebAuthn, FIDO U2F, Yubico OTP, OATH-TOTP/HOTP, Smart card (PIV), and OpenPGP. That means it’s versatile, working almost anywhere you need it
- PRIMARY & SPARE KEYS: Just like having a spare house key, we recommend buying two YubiKeys - one for daily use and one as a spare. That way you’ll never get locked out of your accounts
Rank #2
Yubico - YubiKey 5C NFC - Multi-Factor authentication (MFA) Security Key and passkey, Connect via USB-C or NFC, FIDO Certified - Protect Your Online Accounts
- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The YubiKey 5C NFC is the most versatile physical passkey, protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with popular accounts like Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single YubiKey 5C NFC secures 100+ of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your YubiKey 5C NFC via USB and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC), to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required
- MOST SECURE PASSKEY: Supports FIDO2/WebAuthn, FIDO U2F, Yubico OTP, OATH-TOTP/HOTP, Smart card (PIV), and OpenPGP. That means it’s versatile, working almost anywhere you need it
- PRIMARY & SPARE KEYS: Just like having a spare house key, we recommend buying two YubiKeys - one for daily use and one as a spare. That way you’ll never get locked out of your accounts
#1 Best Overall
Yubico - Security Key C NFC - Basic Compatibility - Multi-Factor authentication (MFA) Security Key and passkey, Connect via USB-C or NFC, FIDO Certified
- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The Security Key C NFC is the essential physical passkey for protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts.
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single Security Key C NFC secures 100 of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more.
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your Security Key C NFC via USB-C and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC) to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required.
- TRUSTED PASSKEY TECHNOLOGY: Uses the latest passkey standards (FIDO2/WebAuthn & FIDO U2F) but does not support One-Time Passwords. For complex needs, check out the YubiKey 5 Series.
- BUILT TO LAST: Made from tough, waterproof, and crush-resistant materials. Manufactured in Sweden and programmed in the USA with the highest security standards.
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