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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Before approving a UPI payment, check the beneficiary name and amount shown in your app. Never share your UPI PIN: it authorizes a payment, and you do not need it to receive money. Treat unexpected payment requests, QR codes, and links as untrusted until you have verified who sent them and why.
How to verify a UPI recipient before paying
UPI apps can show the beneficiary’s name before you initiate a transfer. The Reserve Bank of India says UPI and IMPS enable this verification in its 30 December 2024 notification. Compare the displayed name with the person, shop, or organization you intend to pay. If it does not match, stop and confirm the payment details through a separate contact method you already trust.
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A displayed name helps you check the intended payee; it does not prove that the person or business is trustworthy. For QR payments, review the recipient and amount on the in-app payment screen before entering your PIN. NPCI explains that QR payment information can include merchant details and an amount in its UPI FAQ.
What your UPI PIN does—and when not to enter it
Your UPI PIN is the passcode that authorizes a transaction. Keep it secret, including from anyone claiming to be bank or app support. NPCI says not to share it and describes its role in authorizing transactions in its UPI FAQ.
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You do not need a PIN to receive money. The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre’s Cyber Safety and Security Awareness Manual states, “UPI PIN is not needed while receiving payments.” NPCI similarly warns that “scanning a QR code and entering a UPI PIN is only meant for making payments, not for receiving them” on its Fraud Awareness page. In practical terms, entering the PIN confirms an outgoing payment instruction; it does not unlock incoming funds.
Be especially cautious if someone says you must scan a QR code or enter your PIN to get a refund, cashback, prize, or payment from a buyer. Pause and verify the claim independently rather than following instructions from a message or caller.
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- 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
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- 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
How to assess collect requests, QR codes, and links
A collect request is a request for you to pay; approving it can authorize money to leave your account. Before accepting one, check the requester, reason, amount, and payee details in the app. Decline a request you did not expect or cannot verify. NPCI’s UPI FAQ describes collect requests as a payment flow, and its BHIM UPI App page says BHIM users can inspect pending collect requests and block or report illicit requesters.
NPCI identifies several fraud approaches, including fake cashback links and QR-code deceptions, fraudulent contact details in search results, impersonation on social media, unknown apps, fake investment schemes, threatening messages, and other online scams. These are examples of tactics, not a ranking of how often they occur. Treat an unsolicited link or QR code as a reason to slow down, not as proof that a payment or reward is genuine.
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- 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
- Use your bank’s or payment app’s official support channel rather than a number supplied in a suspicious message or by an unsolicited caller.
- Do not install a payment or remote-access app at the direction of an unexpected caller.
- Before confirming a payment, check the displayed beneficiary and amount and make sure you deliberately initiated the transaction.
How to check a UPI transaction that is pending, failed, or disputed
Check the transaction status in your app’s history. NPCI says a successful transaction should show a success status in the app, with a bank SMS also sent after completion. If money was debited but the transaction failed, NPCI describes reversal and bank-handling scenarios; the applicable timing can differ, so do not assume an exact refund deadline. Contact your bank if the amount does not return as expected, and raise the issue through the app where that option is available. See the NPCI UPI FAQ for its transaction guidance.
BHIM users can report issues with declined transactions through transaction history, according to the BHIM UPI App page. Keep the transaction ID, date, amount, the bank or app involved, and relevant screenshots available when contacting support.
Rank #4
- 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.
What to do if you suspect UPI fraud
- Contact your bank promptly. Use a current, official contact channel and explain what happened. Raise a complaint in your UPI app as well if it provides that option.
- Report suspected financial cyber fraud. The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal’s financial cyber fraud instructions direct victims to call 1930 or report online at cybercrime.gov.in.
- Preserve the incident details. Have your bank or wallet details, transaction ID and date, amount, app information, and screenshots ready if available.
The linked reporting-instructions document is labeled “For Delhi Only” and describes a portal follow-up within 24 hours after a helpline acknowledgement. Do not assume that this document’s follow-up procedure applies everywhere; use the current instructions on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal for your location.
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Quick checks before you authorize a payment
- Does the displayed beneficiary name match the person or business you meant to pay?
- Is the amount correct?
- Did you deliberately start this payment, rather than respond to an unexpected request or promise of incoming money?
- Are you being asked to reveal your PIN, scan a QR code, open a link, or install an app to receive funds? Stop and verify independently.
This guidance applies to UPI use in India. App layouts and complaint procedures can change, so use your bank’s current official channel and the latest portal instructions.
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- 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.
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