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UPI ID is usually an extension of the mobile number and the UPI provider. Scammers take advantage of this. Mobile numbers and details are easy targets as phone numbers are often shared in places like e-shopping, restaurants, malls, parking lots, etc.

Unified Payment Interface (UPI) has an important role in increasing digital payments in the country . UPI has made transactions so simple that today, from street vendors to rickshaw drivers are making payments through UPI. The success of UPI has surprised the world as well. Due to this, you can now make payments through UPI in many countries. In India, crores of people are making transactions through UPI every day. This number is increasing every day. However, this has also increased the danger. Fraudsters are now targeting UPI users and committing fraud. These days, a new method of fraud called Autopay has come. Let us know how it works and how you can avoid it. 

What is UPI Autopay fraud  and how is it being done? 

UPI Autopay fraud works on a simple principle. In this, UPI users are deceived by making them believe a false story. Fraudsters entice users to buy cheap goods or send payment requests for some service. You unknowingly approve the UPI collect money or autopay request. You may wonder why you approved such unknown requests. The reason for this is that you are unable to differentiate between real requests and fraudulent requests. It is important to note that the autopay request is legitimate, but the person generating these requests is a fraud. For example, you are taking a subscription of an OTT like Disney Hotstar. One day you get a request to make a payment to Disney Hotstar. You understand that this is a request to pay for the subscription you have taken. You make the payment but it is not real. This is a real UPI autopay request initiated by the fraud from his Hotstar account. So, if you mistakenly approve this request thinking it is for your own Hotstar subscription, you will end up paying for a fraudster's Hotstar subscription. This is exactly how fraudsters can try to rob you of money if they know your UPI ID.

UPI fraud is quite easy 

UPI ID is usually an extension of the mobile number and the UPI provider. Fraudsters take advantage of this. Mobile numbers and details are easy targets as phone numbers are often shared in places like e-shopping, restaurants, malls, parking lots, etc. Due to this, it is easy for fraudsters to crack the UPI ID and commit fraud. 

What to do to avoid becoming a victim of fraud? 

Avoid linking your bank accounts directly to UPI ID. It is better to use wallets. This will help avoid major frauds. Fraudsters often use emotional tactics, such as pretending to be a family member in distress. Beware of these tactics and reject such requests.