Fake UPI Cashback Reward Scam by SMS

How it looks by SMS, the red flags and what to do.

On SMS the scammer has only a few lines to work with, so they use a deadline, a threat or a prize and a link that must be tapped "now". Fake UPI Cashback Reward Scam is one of the ways this shows up: A message promises a big UPI cashback or scratch card. To claim it you must share a PIN or approve a request, which sends money away.

What fake upi cashback reward scam looks like by SMS

• Several near-identical messages arriving together from different senders.
• A sender name that resembles a bank, courier, tax or utility, or an ordinary mobile number.
• A very short message with a deadline such as "today" or "within 24 hours".

The scammer sends a mass message or posts an advert showing a reward of Rs 500 to Rs 5,000. It copies the colours and style of a known payment app and may say you are one of a few lucky users. A link leads to a fake page that asks for your UPI ID, phone number and sometimes your card number.

Red flags to check on the text message

• A reward arrives that you did not apply for.
• A link, not the official app, is where you claim it.
• You must enter a PIN or approve a request to receive money.
• A countdown or limit of users creates pressure.
• It tells you to install an app from a link instead of the official store.
• The link domain is not the one you type yourself for that organisation.

What to do

1. Do not tap the link or enter any details on the page.
2. Check offers only inside the official app you already use.
3. Never enter a PIN to receive a reward.
4. Open the official app or type the official website yourself to see if there is any real notice.
5. Paste the text into a scam checker (Safeavio Sentinel can check it) before you do anything else.
6. Report the sender on the Sanchar Saathi portal (Chakshu facility) and block the number.

You can report suspicious SMS and calls on the Sanchar Saathi portal (Chakshu facility) of the Department of Telecommunications.

If money or a code is already gone

1. Call 1930 immediately with the transaction details.
2. Tell your bank through the number printed on your card or passbook.
3. Report on https://cybercrime.gov.in with the message and the link page screenshot.
4. Change your UPI PIN and check for other approved requests or mandates.

National Cyber Crime Helpline: 1930; report at cybercrime.gov.in.

Safeavio's link check can look at a reward link before you open it for lookalike domains, shortened links and risky patterns, and the scam check can show why a cashback message looks like pressure. Neither can confirm whether an offer is genuine, so check inside the official app or website you type yourself. Check offers in the real app. It cannot confirm whether any offer is real.

Full guide: Fake UPI Cashback Reward Scam: how it works, signs and what to do. Other channels: WhatsApp, fake app, social media.

Questions