UPI collect request scam: entering your PIN always pays, never receives
If someone asks you to enter your UPI PIN or scan a QR code to receive money, it is a scam. A UPI PIN is only needed to send money. Fraudsters posing as OLX buyers, “army officers”, customer care or refund desks send a collect request that looks like a payment; approving it with your PIN sends them your money.
To receive money you only share your UPI ID or number. Decline the request, block the sender, and call 1930 if money has gone.
Last updated: Reviewed by IndiaDigital editorsSources
How does this scam work?
- You list something on OLX or Facebook, or call a “customer care” number about a refund.
- The other person says they have sent money and you will get a request on PhonePe, Google Pay or Paytm.
- The request shows an amount and an “approve” or “pay” button. They say enter your PIN to receive it.
- Or they send a QR code “to receive payment”. Scanning and entering the PIN pays them.
Real-style examples
Numbers and links are changed. The red flags are marked by the same engine that runs in the Scam Checker.
Sir I have sent you the payment request for your OLX sofa. Just enter your UPI PIN to receive the money. I am in army, posted at Jammu.
- “Enter PIN to receive money”
- “Army officer” buyer, seller or tenant
- Asks for secret banking details
Aapka refund approve ho gaya hai. Is QR code ko scan karke payment receive kar lijiye, paise turant aa jayenge.
- “Scan QR to receive money”
- Refund, cashback or reward to “claim”
- Pressure plus a request
Income Tax refund of Rs 15,490 approved. Pay Rs 10 verification to incometax.refund@ybl to receive it today.
- “Send ₹1 to verify, get double back”
- UPI ID pretends to be an organisation
- Asks for a fee first
Red flags: how to spot it
- “Enter PIN to receive”
- “Scan this QR to get your money”
- A UPI ID named like a bank, refund desk or government office
- “Send ₹1 to verify, I will send back double”
How to check if it is real
- Read the request screen: it says you will PAY. Nothing on a request screen is money coming in.
- Check the payer name your UPI app shows. A “refund” from a personal name is fake.
- Ask the buyer to send money to your UPI ID instead.
What to do if you get one
- Decline the request and block the sender in your UPI app.
- If you approved it, call 1930 at once and report on cybercrime.gov.in, then call your bank.
- Report the number on Chakshu.
Remember: You never need your UPI PIN to receive money. Entering the PIN always sends money out of your account.
Lost money? What to do in the first hour
- Call 1930 now. The National Cyber Crime Helpline. The first hour matters most: a quick report lets banks try to hold the money before it moves on.
- File the complaint on cybercrime.gov.in. Add the transaction ID or UTR, amount, time, the UPI ID or account the money went to, and screenshots. Note your complaint number.
- Tell your bank and freeze cards and UPI. Call the number on your card or in the bank app. Reporting within 3 working days can limit your liability under RBI rules.
- Keep the evidence, beware “recovery agents”. Don’t delete chats. Anyone who charges a fee to get your money back is running a second scam.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a UPI PIN to receive money?
No. You never need a UPI PIN, a QR scan or an OTP to receive money. The PIN is only for paying.
What is a UPI collect request?
It is a request from someone asking you to pay them. If you approve it with your PIN, the amount is debited from your account.
The buyer says he is in the army. Is that a scam?
Fake “army officer” buyers and sellers are a very common OLX and rental scam. Meet in person and never pay or enter a PIN to “verify”.
Related scams
Sources
National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (1930) · Sanchar Saathi: Chakshu, report suspected fraud communication · RBI: limiting customer liability in unauthorised electronic banking transactions