A new cybercrime targeting UPI (Unified Payments Interface) users, dubbed the “Jumped Deposit Scam,” is causing concern. This scam exploits the common practice of checking account balances after receiving a credit notification. Fraudsters initiate the scam by sending a small amount of money to a victim’s account via UPI. This seemingly innocuous deposit is a cleverly disguised trap.
The criminals’ goal is to trick the victim into entering their UPI PIN. Upon receiving the credit notification, the victim instinctively checks their balance, unwittingly triggering a pre-arranged larger withdrawal request initiated by the scammers. The moment the victim enters their PIN to view the balance, the pending withdrawal is automatically approved, and their funds are stolen. This swift execution is what makes the scam so effective.
The Tamil Nadu Police have issued a public warning about this scam following numerous reports on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. They urge citizens to exercise extreme caution when receiving unsolicited UPI payments from unknown senders.
To protect themselves from this sophisticated scam, UPI users can employ two simple yet effective strategies. First, upon receiving an unexpected UPI credit, wait 15-30 minutes before checking the account balance. This delay allows any fraudulent withdrawal requests to time out, rendering the PIN entry irrelevant. Second, if immediate verification is necessary, deliberately enter an incorrect PIN. This will immediately reject any pending transactions, preventing the loss of funds. By adopting these preventative measures, UPI users can significantly reduce their vulnerability to this emerging threat.