Unified Payments Interface
Unified Payments Interface has been named in 4 documented digital harm incidents. The most common harm domain is Fraud & Financial.
Documented Incidents
430-year-old Mumbai man loses ₹7.8 lakh to fake Google task job scam via WhatsApp and Telegram group
A 30-year-old man from Chembur, Mumbai, lost ₹7.8 lakh in a fake online job scam posing as a "Google task" assignment. He received a WhatsApp message on September 7 offering paid restaurant reviews at ₹40 per review. The victim joined a Telegram group called “Google Mission India 190” and was initially paid small amounts of ₹120 and ₹200. Scammers then convinced him to make larger UPI and IMPS transfers, ranging from ₹15,000 to ₹2 lakh, claiming these were needed to unlock higher commissions. The scam was discovered when the fraudsters blocked him after he refused to send more money. He reported the incident to the national cybercrime helpline and filed a complaint at Chembur Police Station.
28-year-old man loses ₹1.9 lakh to online dating scam involving emotional manipulation and UPI transfers
A 28-year-old man from Hyderabad lost ₹1.9 lakh in an online dating scam involving emotional manipulation and impersonation. He met a woman identifying herself as Madugula Saranya on June 3 through the dating app Chat Zozo. Saranya claimed to be an orphan in urgent need of money and convinced the victim to transfer ₹95,000 to various UPI IDs. When he requested repayment, she cited banking issues and later introduced a man named Subhash, who promised to help recover the money. The victim transferred another ₹95,000 to UPI accounts provided by Subhash, who claimed the funds were tied up in betting. By June 26, the victim had lost a total of ₹1.9 lakh and filed a complaint at the Cyber Crime Police Station.
37-year-old Ahmedabad lecturer loses ₹68.94 lakh to former student investment scam via UPI and loans
A 37-year-old lecturer at LD Engineering College in Ahmedabad was defrauded of over ₹68.94 lakh by his former student in an investment scam. The accused, Saurabh Pawan Kumar Trivedi, used false claims of being associated with Aditya Birla Capital and a startup called Honix Enterprises to lure the victim. Between November 2022 and November 2023, the victim transferred funds through UPI, took out multiple loans, and used credit cards to send money to Saurabh’s accounts and a firm linked to him. The victim also liquidated stock holdings worth ₹3.44 lakh, which were sent to an Axis Bank account in Saurabh’s name. Saurabh occasionally sent small amounts to cover EMIs but eventually went missing. The victim filed an FIR in January 2025 after failing to contact Saurabh, and police are investigating under charges of cheating and criminal misappropriation.
Mangaluru man loses ₹58.26 lakh in online coin sale scam via Facebook ad and WhatsApp extortion
A Mangaluru man lost Rs 58.26 lakh in an online scam after attempting to sell old coins through an advertisement on Facebook. The incident began on November 25 when the victim contacted a WhatsApp number provided in the ad and paid an initial fee of Rs 750 via UPI. Scammers then demanded additional payments under various pretexts such as GST, insurance, and RBI notice fees, which the victim made through RTGS, NEFT, and UPI. On December 15, the victim received a call from someone claiming to be a Mumbai Cyber Police Commissioner, who threatened him with arrest unless he paid Rs 12.55 lakh. Fearing legal consequences, the victim transferred Rs 9 lakh to a DCB Bank account on December 17. After realizing the scam, the victim filed a complaint at the local police station.