QR Code Scam in India
🔹Short Note :
In QR Code Payments Fraud, a scammer will forcibly get you to scan their QR code. They tell you that you make money but actually the money gets debited from your account. So one wrong scan and you directly lose money.
🔹 Detailed Explanation :
QR code payment scamming is when fraudsters trick the victim into scanning a QR code through the lure of receiving money e.g. refunds, prizes, salary, payments, etc. But the result of the QR code scan is a payment request, not a credit. Conventionally scammers pretend to be buyers, sellers, customer support executives, or delivery partners.
They send a QR code to the victim and ask the victim to “scan for money.” After scanning, the application asks for the UPI PIN; thus, once the victim enters it, the money gets debited from their account without their knowledge.
Hindi :
QR code fraud tab hota hai jab scandmmer aapko QR code scan karne ke liye kehta hai ki aapko paise milege. Par jab aap QR code scan karte hain toh payment request generate ho jati hai, credit nahi hota. Jitni jaldi aap UPI PIN enter karoge, utni hi jaldi paisa aapke account se chala jayega. Ye fraud OLX/Quikr ke buyers bante hain, fake sellers, refund agents, ya delivery staffs ban kar. Victim ke liye ye lagta hai ki wo paisa le raha hai, lekin wo payment karta hai.
🔹 Main Conditions
- A scammer convinces the victim to scan the QR code
- There should be some pretext like “Receive money” or “refund”
- After scanning, the victim should be asked to enter his/her UPI PIN
- It should be a debit transaction
- Communication via WhatsApp/call/app
🔹 Example
Aakash sold a phone on OLX to a buyer. The buyer insisted on the payment to be through scanning the QR code. Aakash scanned the code, entered his PIN and lost a sum of ₹30,000 from his account. The buyer thereafter blocked the number.
🔹 Key Legal Points
- QR scam falls under the category of cyber cheating
- IPC Section 420 (Cheating) also applies
- IT Act violation due to unauthorized transaction
- Without the UPI PIN, no payment can get completed
- If you report early, the bank can freeze the transaction
🔹 Nyay Neeti Advice
- Do not scan a QR code to get money
- QR code scanning is only for payment purposes
- Only type in your UPI PIN when paying
- Don’t let the pressure of unknown buyers/sellers get to you
- If you get scammed, call up 1930 Cyber Helpline right away.
