How To Not Get Scammed By Fake PhonePe Payment?

The fake PhonePe Payment tricks are on a horrendous rise these days. The number of fake payment apps available online and the YouTube tutorials on them is almost scary. PhonePe is one popular transaction/ payment app that has had the greatest hits from scammers who use fake apps to generate payment images or screenshots that look just like the original one. How do you stay cautious of such fraudulent people and activities? We are going to discuss all that now so that you stay safe from such scams.

Also Read: Google Wallet Vs Google Pay: Difference, Uses, Features Explained!

What Is Fake PhonePe Payment?

Before we start, let’s first understand the process and what really happens in fake PhonePe Payments or what exactly we mean by it.

This is how the app works- whenever a payment is made through the PhonePe app, the sender requires either a QR code generated from the receiver’s app, a phone number, or a UPI ID. Once the money is sent, the sender and receiver both get a confirmation of the transaction. The sender can show that confirmation to the receiver to inform them that they have paid the money.

This is where scammers create counterfeit versions of this confirmation page to trick individuals and businesses into thinking they have received legitimate payments when, in reality, no money has been transferred.

These Are Some Common Scamming Methods

1. Misleading local offline Shop owners: Scammers send fake payment confirmation screenshots to shopkeepers to get products or services without actually paying. Especially when the person is busy attending to other customers. They often miss verifying.
2. Online Businesses: Scammers send fake screenshots of payment confirmations to small online businesses to receive products, causing them huge losses.
3. Tricking Victims into Sending Cash: Victims are convinced to send cash in exchange for a fake online payment transfer.
4. Persistent Requests for Money: Scammers persistently ask victims to send money back after a fake person-to-person transfer.

How To Identifying The Fake PhonePe Payment Confirmation?

The first and most important step is to identify the moment someone is trying to scam you. There are some tell-tale signs that add to the suspicion rightfully. Some of them are listed below:

Unverified Payment Confirmations:

A missing transaction detail in your PhonePe app or confirmation from the Bank can be a good way to tell if the payment was genuine. Always cross-verify from these official sources.

Lack of Official Notifications:

Genuine payment confirmations will come through official channels like SMS, email, or in-app notifications.

• For SMS: Notice whether the number from which you are receiving the SMS is official or not. You can check the past SMSs from the number.
• For Emails: Be extra careful when reading the email address from where you may have received the mail. Go to the official website to cross-verify the email address if needed.

These are simple ways to identify a fake PhonePe Payment.

Random Contacts Asking For PhonePe Details

You have never come across this contact before and never heard them. However, out of the blue, they claim to be from PhonePe and are asking for sensitive information. Now that’s a red flag! As the PhonePe executives themselves admit that they will never request these details, you can probably refuse to engage.

Suspicious Sender Details

When you receive a payment request, verify the sender’s details, such as name and UPI ID. It should match the original design, font, and style as it happens when you make a genuine payment. Also, fake requests often come from unknown parties.

Also Read: How To Split Bill With Group on Google Pay

Request Money Fraud

This scam trick is gaining momentum on the PhonePe app these days, and lots of users have fallen prey to it. Request Money fraud comes along with the ‘request money’ feature on the PhonePe App. Basically, with this feature, one can request payment of a certain amount (filled by them) to another person, known as a ‘collect-call’ request. With this action, a pop-up appears on the PhonePe app of the one who receives the payment request, along with the options to ‘Pay’ or ‘Decline’ it.

Here is how Scammers take advantage of this feature:

• Most commonly found on sites like OLX or Quikr, scammers pose as potential buyers. Instead of paying, they make a collect-call request using PhonePe and send fraudulent messages like “Once you pay, you will receive money.”
• Sometimes, they also pose as representatives from companies like Flipkart or Myntra, claiming you have won money and deceiving messages like ‘Congratulations y’They send a collect-call request with the company’s logo, asking you to complete the transaction.
• Fraudsters also circulate fake helpline numbers on Twitter, claiming to help with money transfers or cashback issues. They, too, engage in request payment fraud.

A simple takeaway to safeguard yourself from fake PhonePe Payment is to understand that you do not need to click ‘Pay’ or enter your UPI PIN to receive money.

If You Have Already Fallen For The Fake PhonePe Payment Trap!

Don’t be upset, it wasn’t just your lucky day. However, don’t lose hope, you can take some important steps if such an incident happens:

• On PhonePe App: if you have been using the app, you can raise an issue in the Help section. Choose the “have an issue with the transaction” option. You can also report it in the PhonePe app under “Account security issue / Report fraudulent activity.”
• On PhonePe Customer care Call: You can attempt to talk to an executive about the fraud transaction that happened with fake PhonePe payment. Call on 80–68727374 / 022–68727374. After this, the customer care agent will raise a ticket and help with your issue.
• On Web Form: You can directly raise an issue by filling out PhonePe’s web form. You can get it here- https://support.phonepe.com/
• On Tweet: Another effective way to reach out to PhonePe is via Twitter. Just share your concern by tagging PhonePeSupport. Their agent will DM you for details.
• Lodge Complaint with police or Cyber crime cell: Lodge an FIR with the nearest police station or complaint online at https://www.cybercrime.gov.in/. You can also reach them out with helpline number- 1930.

Seek Safety During Payment Via App And Online Transactions

1. Double-check if using screenshots. These can be easily manipulated using fake Phonepe payment apps, so never trust them as proof of payment. Instead, rely on official notifications from your Bank or the PhonePe app itself.
2. Avoid sharing sensitive information like card numbers, expiry dates, PINs, or OTPs with anyone claiming to be a PhonePe representative. If someone insists, the best way to take it is to ask them to send an email from an official @phonepe.com address to verify their identity.
3. Never download screen-sharing apps like Screenshare, AnyDesk, or TeamViewer to “verify” payments unless asked to do so by someone. These are basically told to acquire remote access.
4. Only contact PhonePe through their official website, app, and verified social media accounts.

Also Read: How To Change Or Reset UPI Pin on Google Pay?

In The End

The key takeaway is to be careful whenever you engage in online money transactions, especially through PhonePe or other similar payment apps. Learn to identify fake PhonePe payment and avoid sharing anything other than your PhonePe number as that’s all one needs to send you money through this app.

Also, don’t forget to share this blog with your peers and family who frequently use PhonePe payment.

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