Not every app promising cashback or better UPI rates is what it says it is.
CommonSearching for customer care online can lead straight to a fraudster's inbox.
CommonA polite request to return money that was never really sent to you.
High RiskThe scam behind most large UPI losses — not a hacked system, but a willingly-shared screen.
High RiskYour PIN is only ever needed to send money — never to receive it.
CommonScanning a code should never require your PIN if you're the one being paid.
One fact ends this scam instantly: no agency can arrest you over a video call.
CommonSometimes the top search result was placed there by the scammer, not the bank.
CommonA genuine employer never asks you to pay before you start working.
CommonA message about money coming to you lowers your guard — that's the trick.
CommonUrgency about losing power is designed to make you skip every normal check.
CommonA parcel you never ordered can still cost you money on a fake payment page.
Unlike a stolen card, a stolen ID number can't simply be blocked.
High RiskLost signal for no reason can be the first sign of an active fraud.
High RiskReal KYC updates almost never happen through a link in an SMS.
A promise of fixed, guaranteed returns is itself the red flag.
High RiskThe permissions the app asks for first are where the real damage begins.
High RiskThe rising numbers on screen are the product being sold to you.
No voice, no video — just a message and a copied profile photo.
High Risk"I recognised the voice" is no longer reliable proof of who's calling.
High RiskBuilt entirely around panic — designed to leave no time to think clearly.
UPI was built for speed, not reversibility — realistic expectations for a dispute.
ReferenceOften the document your bank or insurer will ask for before they'll act.
ReferenceReporting speed matters more than almost anything else in this rule.