Mumbai Uber auto scam puts UPI users on alert over fake QR codes

The Story in Brief

A passenger in Mumbai faced a potential UPI fraud after an Uber auto driver showed a tampered QR code. The passenger paid in cash but later received multiple UPI registration messages from different banks. Times Now reports that, according to a tweet from journalist Nishit Singh Raghuwanshi, his sister encountered the suspicious payment situation. Social media user Soham explained the scam: scanning a fake QR code can trigger an action on the phone rather than just open a payment page, allowing scammers to attempt UPI registration if they already have the victim's mobile number.

Authorities advise against scanning suspicious QR codes, always checking the payee name before a UPI PIN entry, and avoiding receipts, refunds, or cashback requests via QR codes. If a suspicious scan leads to registration messages, victims should immediately inform their bank and report cyber fraud.