Learn how the jumped deposit scam tricks UPI users into approving larger payments after an unexpected bank credit.
You check your bank account and notice Rs. 500 credited by someone you don’t know. Soon, your phone rings. The caller says they sent the money by mistake.
“I’ve sent you the money. Please return it. I need it back urgently,” they say.
You open your UPI app and see a payment request. Thinking the stranger is asking you to return the Rs. 500, you tap the request and approve the payment.
But there’s a problem. The request is for Rs. 5,000, not Rs. 500.
You have just authorised a payment ten times larger than the amount you received.
This is called the jumped deposit scam.
Recently, the State Bank of India (SBI) issued a warning about this type of fraud. The bank said that fraudsters may use small, unexpected deposits to gain people’s trust before persuading them to approve larger UPI payments.
How does the jumped deposit scam work?
It starts with a small amount of money arriving in your bank account from an unknown sender. The sender then contacts you, claims they made a mistake and asks you to return the money.
They may send a screenshot, make repeated calls or tell you they need the money for an emergency. The aim is to get you to act before you check the details.
The caller may then send a UPI payment request for a much larger amount. If you mistake it for a refund request and approve the payment, the money goes from your account to theirs.
For example, you receive Rs. 500 but approve a payment request for Rs. 5,000. You lose Rs. 5,000, even though the original credit was only Rs. 500.
Remember: a payment request does not debit your account just by appearing on your screen. You have to take action to approve the payment. Simply opening your UPI app does not transfer money.
Why do people fall for this trick?
Most people want to return money that doesn’t belong to them. A caller who claims to have made an honest mistake can take advantage of that instinct.
The pressure to act quickly makes things worse. The caller may say they need the money for a medical emergency or keep calling until you agree to help. You may focus on returning the money and overlook the amount displayed on your screen.
This is where the mistake happens. A request to receive money is different from a request to pay someone. You do not need to approve an incoming payment or enter your UPI PIN to receive money.
Before approving any UPI transaction, check the amount and the recipient. If someone asks you to return an unexpected credit, don’t approve a payment request sent by that person. Contact your bank and ask how to handle the transaction.
SBI has advised customers to verify suspicious transactions, avoid acting under pressure, block suspected fraudsters and report suspicious activity to their bank.
NPCI clarified that opening a UPI app does not automatically approve a payment. A transaction requires the user’s action and authorisation.
This distinction matters. An unexpected deposit cannot automatically empty your bank account. The risk described in these warnings is that someone may trick you into approving a payment you never intended to make.
If money arrives unexpectedly, check your bank statement and contact your bank for guidance. Don’t spend money that may have been sent by mistake, but don’t send a separate payment to a stranger just because they demand a refund.
If you have already transferred money and suspect fraud, contact your bank immediately and call India’s cyber financial fraud helpline at 1930. You can also report the incident at cybercrime.gov.in.
