UPI Collect Request Scam: How Fraudsters Trick You Into Paying Instead of Receiving Money
A UPI collect request means someone is asking you to pay them. If you approve it and enter your PIN, money leaves your account. Learn how this scam works in India.
You are selling an old phone on OLX.
A buyer messages you:
“I will pay through UPI. Please accept the collect request on your PhonePe or Google Pay.”
Or you receive a call from “customer care”:
“We have sent a refund collect request on your UPI app. Please accept it to receive your money.”
Or you see a UPI notification:
text Collect Request ₹2,500 From: merchant@upi Tap to accept
The message or caller says:
“Just enter your UPI PIN to receive the amount.”
If you do this, you will not receive money.
You will send money.
A UPI collect request scam is a fraud in which a criminal sends a payment request to your UPI app (PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm, BHIM, bank UPI app) but tells you that you are receiving money. When you approve the request and enter your UPI PIN, the amount is debited from your account and transferred to the fraudster.
Golden rule: You never need a UPI PIN to receive money. If someone asks for your PIN to send you a payment, refund, cashback or prize, it is a scam.
What Is a UPI Collect Request?
A UPI collect request is a feature that allows a person or merchant to request money from your UPI app.
Instead of you sending money, the other person sends a request asking you to pay them.
When the request appears on your screen, you can:
- Accept and pay
- Decline and reject
If you accept and enter your UPI PIN, the money moves from your account to theirs.
This feature is useful for legitimate merchants and services. For example, a utility company may send a collect request for your electricity bill.
However, criminals misuse this feature by disguising the request as a refund, payment or cashback.
How the UPI Collect Request Scam Works
Step 1: The criminal contacts you
The scam can begin with:
- A call from fake “customer care”
- A WhatsApp message from a fake buyer
- An OLX or marketplace chat
- A Telegram message
- A social-media advertisement
- A fake refund email
- A fake loan or investment offer
They create a reason why you must “accept” a UPI request.
Examples:
text We are sending you a refund. Please accept the collect request. I am buying your product. Accept the collect request to receive payment. Your cashback is ready. Tap accept on the UPI request. We need to verify your account. Approve the small collect request. Your insurance refund has been processed. Accept the UPI collect request now.
Step 2: You receive a UPI collect request notification
Your UPI app shows a notification such as:
text Collect Request ₹1,500 From: 9876543210@upi Tap to view
The message may include a note like:
text Refund Payment Cashback Settlement Verification
The criminal tells you this is how you will receive money.
Step 3: You are told to enter your UPI PIN
The fraudster says:
“Just enter your PIN to receive the amount.”
But entering your UPI PIN on a collect request does not credit money to your account.
It approves a payment from your account to theirs.
Once you enter the PIN, the money is transferred immediately.
Step 4: The criminal disappears
After the transaction is complete, the fraudster may:
- Block your number
- Stop responding
- Send another fake request
- Claim a technical error and ask for another payment
- Ask for more personal details
You are left with a debited amount and no refund.
Common UPI Collect Request Scam Scenarios
1. Fake Buyer on OLX or Marketplace
You list an item for sale.
A buyer messages:
“I will pay now. Please accept the collect request on your UPI app.”
You see a request for ₹5,000.
You think you are receiving ₹5,000.
But when you approve, ₹5,000 is debited from your account.
2. Fake Refund From Customer Care
You call a “customer-care” number for a shopping issue, airline cancellation, hotel refund or utility problem.
The agent says:
“We will send a refund collect request. Please accept it and enter your PIN.”
You approve the request.
Money leaves your account instead of arriving.
3. Fake Cashback or Prize
You receive a message:
“Congratulations! You have won ₹10,000 cashback. Accept the UPI collect request to receive it.”
There is no prize.
The collect request is a payment demand.
4. Fake Loan or Investment Verification
A fake loan agent says:
“We need to verify your account. Approve a small collect request of ₹100.”
You approve.
They may then send larger requests or use your details for further fraud.
5. Fake Payment for Services
A freelancer or seller may receive a message:
“We will pay your invoice through UPI collect. Please accept the request.”
The request is not a payment.
It is a demand for you to pay.
8 Red Flags of a UPI Collect Request Scam
Watch for these warning signs:
- Someone says you must enter your UPI PIN to receive money.
- A caller or message asks you to “accept” a collect request for a refund.
- The UPI notification says “Collect Request” or “Request Money.”
- The sender pressures you to act immediately.
- The transaction note says “Refund,” “Cashback,” “Payment” or “Verification” but comes from an unfamiliar UPI ID.
- You are selling something and the buyer insists on using a collect request instead of sending money directly.
- A “customer-care” agent guides you through UPI steps over the phone.
- The UPI ID looks suspicious or does not match the company name.
RBI has warned users that fraudsters misuse the collect-request feature by sending fake payment requests with messages like “Enter your UPI PIN” to receive money.
What To Do If You Receive a Suspicious Collect Request
Step 1: Do not accept the request
If the request looks suspicious:
- Do not tap “Accept”
- Do not enter your UPI PIN
- Do not share screenshots of your UPI app with strangers
Step 2: Decline the request
Use the “Decline” or “Reject” option in your UPI app.
This cancels the request on your side.
Step 3: Report the UPI ID
Most UPI apps allow you to report suspicious UPI IDs or transactions.
Use the in-app “Report” option.
Step 4: Block the caller or contact
If the request came from someone you chatted with:
- Block their number
- Block their UPI ID
- Report them on the marketplace or platform
Step 5: Contact your bank if you accidentally approved it
If you already entered your UPI PIN:
- Call your bank immediately using the official number
- Inform them of the suspected fraud
- Ask them to monitor your account
- Request transaction reversal if possible
- Change your UPI PIN
Step 6: Report financial cyber fraud
If money was debited:
text Call 1930 immediately.
Then file a complaint at:
text https://cybercrime.gov.in
Save:
- Screenshots of the collect request
- Call details
- Chat messages
- UPI transaction ID
- Fraudster’s UPI ID and phone number
How To Use UPI Safely
Never share your UPI PIN
Your UPI PIN is only for:
- Sending money
- Approving legitimate payments you initiate
You never need a UPI PIN to:
- Receive money
- Receive a refund
- Receive cashback
- Verify your account
- Unlock a prize
RBI and NPCI have repeatedly warned users never to share UPI PIN, OTP or card details with anyone, including people claiming to be bank officials.
Always check the transaction screen carefully
Before entering your PIN, read the screen.
Look for:
- “You are paying” vs “You are receiving”
- The UPI ID of the recipient
- The amount
- The transaction type (payment, collect request, mandate)
If anything looks wrong, cancel immediately.
Use UPI only with trusted contacts and merchants
Avoid:
- Accepting collect requests from strangers
- Approving payments based on phone instructions
- Sharing UPI screenshots with unknown people
- Clicking UPI links from WhatsApp, SMS or email
Enable transaction alerts
Make sure your UPI app and bank send:
- SMS alerts
- In-app notifications
- Email alerts
This helps you detect unauthorised transactions quickly.
Hindi: UPI कलेक्ट रिक्वेस्ट फ्रॉड से कैसे बचें
text UPI कलेक्ट रिक्वेस्ट का मतलब है कि कोई आपसे पैसे मांग रहा है। अगर आप कलेक्ट रिक्वेस्ट को स्वीकार करते हैं और UPI PIN डालते हैं, तो पैसे आपके खाते से कट जाएंगे। पैसे प्राप्त करने के लिए कभी UPI PIN की जरूरत नहीं होती। अगर कोई कहे कि रिफंड, कैशबैक या पेमेंट पाने के लिए PIN डालें, तो यह फ्रॉड है। संदेहजनक कलेक्ट रिक्वेस्ट को तुरंत अस्वीकार करें। अगर गलती से PIN डाल दिया, तो तुरंत बैंक को कॉल करें, 1930 पर संपर्क करें और cybercrime.gov.in पर शिकायत करें।
Gujarati: UPI કલેક્ટ રિક્વેસ્ટ ફ્રોડથી કેવી રીતે બચવું
text UPI કલેક્ટ રિક્વેસ્ટનો અર્થ છે કે કોઈ તમારી પાસેથી પૈસા માંગી રહ્યું છે. જો તમે કલેક્ટ રિક્વેસ્ટ સ્વીકારો છો અને UPI PIN નાખો છો, તો પૈસા તમારા ખાતામાંથી કપાઈ જશે. પૈસા મેળવવા માટે ક્યારેય UPI PIN ની જરૂર નથી. જો કોઈ કહે કે રિફંડ, કેશબેક કે પેમેન્ટ મેળવવા માટે PIN નાખો, તો તે ફ્રોડ છે. સંદેહજનક કલેક્ટ રિક્વેસ્ટને તરત નકારો. જો ભૂલથી PIN નાખી દીધી, તો તરત બેંકને કૉલ કરો, 1930 પર સંપર્ક કરો અને cybercrime.gov.in પર ફરિયાદ કરો.
How ScamShield AI Helps
ScamShield AI helps users and businesses review suspicious messages before they approve a payment or share information.
Use ScamShield AI to assess:
- UPI collect request messages
- Fake refund calls and chats
- OLX and marketplace payment messages
- Customer-care refund instructions
- Cashback and prize messages
- Loan and investment verification requests
- UPI payment screenshots
- Suspicious UPI IDs
- Payment links in WhatsApp and SMS
- Social-media payment advertisements
ScamShield AI can help identify warning signals, but it should not replace safe UPI practices.
If someone asks for your UPI PIN to send you money, stop. It is a scam.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a UPI collect request?
A UPI collect request is a feature that allows a person or merchant to request money from your UPI app. If you accept the request and enter your UPI PIN, money is transferred from your account to theirs.
Can I receive money by accepting a UPI collect request?
No. A collect request is a payment demand, not a payment receipt. To receive money, someone must send funds directly to your UPI ID. You never need a UPI PIN to receive money.
Is it safe to accept a collect request from a buyer on OLX?
No. A legitimate buyer should send money directly to your UPI ID. If they ask you to accept a collect request, they are asking you to pay them, not pay you.
What should I do if I accidentally approved a collect request?
Contact your bank immediately using the official number, report the transaction in your UPI app, call 1930 if fraud is suspected, and file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in.
Do I need to enter my UPI PIN to receive a refund?
No. Refunds are credited directly to your account. You never need to enter a UPI PIN, approve a collect request or share OTP to receive a refund.
Can a collect request be cancelled after approval?
Once you approve a collect request and enter your UPI PIN, the payment is processed immediately. Contact your bank and report the transaction as fraud to explore possible reversal options.
Final Takeaway
A UPI collect request is not a payment to you.
It is a request for you to pay someone else.
If you approve it and enter your UPI PIN, money leaves your account.
Remember:
Never enter your UPI PIN to receive money, refund, cashback or prize.
If a caller, message or notification asks you to accept a collect request for a refund or payment, decline it immediately and report it.