How It Works
Scammer sends a "Collect Request" through UPI disguised as a refund or cashback notification. The victim, thinking they are about to receive money, approves the request with their UPI PIN — but a collect request always deducts money, never adds it.
Real Example
You sell an old phone on a classifieds app. The "buyer" sends a UPI collect request saying "Approve to receive ₹8,000 payment." Approving it instead deducts ₹8,000 from your account.
Red Flags 🚩
- Notification asking you to "approve" a payment to receive money
- Collect requests from unknown UPI IDs
- Pressure to approve quickly before "offer expires"
- Request labelled as refund, cashback, or prize
Protection Steps 🛡️
- Remember: approving a request always sends money, never receives it.
- Never enter your UPI PIN to "receive" a payment.
- Decline collect requests from strangers.
- Use "Request Money" yourself if you genuinely need to receive funds.