Beware of UPI payment reward scam! Avoid these things to protect your money

UPI Payment Reward Scam: ​Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payment apps have transformed the way we pay money for services or transfer money online. We often get reward points or coupons for UPI payments. But in the world of cybercrime, such rewards can pose a threat and even can rob you. Zee Business Ekta Suri's report.

Suri suggested that people should avoid coupons/cashback asking for a UPI app, PIN or any OTP.

According to the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) data, the UPI payment figure crossed Rs 10 lakh crores in June 2022. 

Akshay, a resident of Mumbai, said that after he transferred money via PhonePe, he got a call from a hacker who lured him with a cashback reward of Rs 4,000. In fact, the reward promised to him was visible in the notification section of the app which cemented Akshay's trust. However, he suspected a foul play when the hacker asked for his UPI PIN to claim the reward. 

According to the Maharashtra Cyber ​​Cell SP Sanjay Shintre, many people often get trapped in the greed of such cashback and share their UPI PIN with hackers. The UPI PIN has nothing to do for claiming rewards or cashback.

Once the hackers obtain UPI PIN, they get access to a person's smartphone. By accessing the files of the payment app, they send cashback notifications that gives a resemblance that the notification is true. The users believe that the notification is real and in order to claim the reward, they share their PIN or OTP with hackers. As a result, they lose their cash from their linked account.