Measures Against UPI Frauds and International Expansion

The Ministry of Finance addressed a question in the Lok Sabha regarding UPI transactions and fraud prevention measures. UPI transactions across India, including states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, have seen significant growth over the last two financial years, with detailed data provided on monthly transaction volumes and values. However, UPI transactions do not track the geographical location of users. To combat fraud, the RBI implemented the Central Payment Fraud Information Registry (CPFIR) in 2020, requiring regulated entities to report payment-related fraud. Preventive measures include device binding, two-factor authentication, transaction limits, and AI-based fraud monitoring solutions provided by the NPCI. Public awareness campaigns and reporting channels such as the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal and helpline (1930) have also been introduced.

Additionally, the Department of Telecommunications launched tools like the Digital Intelligence Platform and the ‘Chakshu’ facility on the Sanchar Saathi portal to address fraud communication. The RBI’s Payments Vision Document 2025 aims to internationalize UPI by linking it with other countries’ fast payment systems, enabling QR-based cross-border transactions, and deploying UPI-like infrastructures globally. Data from 2022-2024 indicates an increasing trend in both transaction volumes and fraud incidents, with significant measures in place to enhance user safety and global usability.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 211

ANSWERED ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2024/AGRAHAYANA 04, 1946 (SAKA)
Fraud in UPI Transactions

211. DR. ALOK KUMAR SUMAN:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

(a)the number of Unified Payment Interface (UPI) transaction conducted in the country including Bihar and Uttar Pradesh during the last two years and the current year, month-wise and state/UT-wise along with the number of incidents of frauds reported in the UPI cash transactions;

(b)the measures taken by the government for safe and secure UPI transaction and prevention of fraud in the transactions; and

(c)whether the Apex Bank proposes to link UPI with fast payment systems of other countries for payments and if so, the steps taken by the Government for financial sector user for ease of payments?

Answer

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

(a)Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has informed that the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) transactions do not capture the geographical location. However, the UPI transactions conducted in the country including Bihar and Uttar Pradesh during the last two financial years and the current financial year is attached as Annexure-I.

RBI has implemented Central Payment Fraud Information Registry (CPFIR), a web-based payment related fraud reporting tool since march 2020. All the Regulated Entities (RE) are required to report the payment related frauds to the said CPFIR. The year-wise UPI domestic payments frauds reported during the last two financial years and the current financial year is attached as Annexure-II.

(b)In order to prevent payment related frauds including UPI transaction frauds, various initiatives have been taken by the Government, RBI and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) from time to time. These, inter alia, includes device binding between customer mobile number and the device, two factor authentication through PIN, daily transaction limit, limits and curbs on use cases etc. Further, NPCI provides a fraud monitoring solution to all the banks to enable them to alert and decline transactions for fraud mitigation by using AI/ML based models. RBI and Banks have also been taking awareness campaigns through short SMS, radio campaign, publicity on prevention of ‘cyber-crime’ etc.

In order to facilitate the citizens to report any cyber incidents including financial frauds, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has launched a National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (www.cybercrime.gov.in) as well as a National Cybercrime Helpline Number ´1930´. Further, customers can also report financial frauds on the official customer care web site or branches of the banks.

(c)Further Department of Telecommunications has launched Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) and ‘Chakshu’ facility on Sanchar Saathi portal (https://sancharsaathi.gov.in)‘Chakshu’ facilitates citizens to report suspected fraud communication received over call, SMS or WhatsApp with the intention of defrauding like KYC expiry or update of bank account / etc.

RBI’s Payments Vision Document 2025 has outlined expanding the global outreach of UPI and RuPay cards as one of the key objectives under the ‘internationalization’ pillar.

In this regard, RBI is currently collaborating with various relevant stakeholders for expanding the outreach of UPI through following modes:

i. Interlinking of UPI with Fast Payment System (FPS) of other countries for personal remittances on reciprocal basis.

ii. Acceptance of UPI Apps via QR codes at merchant locations abroad and vice-versa.

 iii.  Deployment of UPI-like infrastructure in other countries.

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*Till Sep,2024

*Till Sep,2024