The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has announced a nationwide consumer awareness initiative to educate digital payment users about the growing threat of text message scams and promote safe digital transaction practices across the country.
Highlighting the increasing adoption of digital payments in India, NPCI said fraudsters are using social engineering techniques to exploit human emotions such as fear, urgency and curiosity through fake SMS messages that appear to originate from trusted organisations, including banks, government agencies, telecom operators and delivery companies. These fraudulent messages are designed to persuade users to click fake links, contact fraudulent customer care numbers, download malicious applications, reveal sensitive information such as OTPs, UPI PINs and passwords, or transfer money based on misleading payment notifications.
As part of the awareness campaign, NPCI has urged consumers to read messages carefully before responding, verify requests through official websites, mobile applications or customer care channels, download applications only from authorised app stores, avoid clicking suspicious links, review app permissions carefully and verify payment credits through their bank account statements. The organisation also encouraged users to save screenshots and message records and report suspicious numbers through the national cybercrime helpline 1930 or the Department of Telecommunications’ Sanchar Saathi platform.
Established by the Reserve Bank of India and the Indian Banks’ Association, NPCI operates India’s retail payment infrastructure and powers products including UPI, RuPay, IMPS, NACH, AePS and e-RUPI. The organisation said the initiative reflects its continued commitment to strengthening consumer trust, enhancing digital payment security and supporting the growth of India’s digital economy.
