Audit and Update Your UPI Apps
The festive season is the perfect time for a digital clean-up. Start by reviewing the UPI apps installed on your phone. Many of us download multiple apps over time but end up using only one or two. Uninstalling dormant or unused apps reduces clutter and
minimises your digital footprint, which is a good security practice. For the apps you decide to keep, check for updates in the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Developers frequently release updates that include new features, performance improvements, and critical security patches. Running the latest version ensures your transactions are protected by the most current safety protocols. This simple step helps prevent potential vulnerabilities and ensures the apps run smoothly during high-traffic periods.
Review and Manage Linked Bank Accounts
Most UPI apps allow you to link multiple bank accounts for convenience. While useful, this can also create confusion and increase risk if not managed properly. Open each of your primary UPI apps and navigate to the 'Linked Bank Accounts' section. Take a moment to review all the accounts listed. Are there any old salary accounts or accounts with low balances that you no longer use? Unlinking these inactive accounts is a smart move. It simplifies your payment choices and, more importantly, limits your financial exposure in the unlikely event your UPI profile is compromised. For your active accounts, consider assigning one as your default for all Diwali-related spending. This can make it much easier to track your festive budget and review transactions later.
Customise Your Transaction Limits
Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has a standard daily transaction limit, typically ₹1 lakh, set by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). However, many banks allow you to set a lower, personalised limit through their net banking portals or mobile apps. Brands like SBI and ICICI offer this functionality. Setting a lower daily limit—for instance, ₹10,000 or ₹25,000—can act as a powerful safety net. If a fraudster gains access to your account, the potential loss is capped at your pre-set limit, not the full ₹1 lakh. This is especially useful during the festival season when the risk of scams can be higher. It's a proactive measure that gives you control over your exposure without significantly hampering your daily transaction needs. If you need to make a larger payment, you can temporarily adjust the limit and then reset it.
Activate and Utilise UPI Lite
For the flurry of small-ticket purchases that define Diwali—sweets, diyas, and small gifts—UPI Lite is an excellent tool. It functions as an on-device wallet that you can load with funds (up to ₹5,000 at a time) from your bank account. Transactions up to ₹1,000 can then be made without entering a UPI PIN, making payments incredibly fast. The key benefit is that these small transactions don't clutter your bank statement, as only the bulk load and reload amounts are recorded. This makes your bank passbook much cleaner and easier to review for larger, more important transactions. It also reduces the load on bank servers, leading to fewer transaction failures during peak hours.
Stay Alert to Festive Season Scams
Fraudsters become particularly active during festivals, using the excitement and urgency of sales to their advantage. Be extremely wary of messages and links promising unbelievable discounts, free vouchers, or government festive bonuses. A common tactic is the QR code scam, where you are asked to scan a code to receive money; in reality, scanning a QR code is only for sending money. Another is the fake payment request, where a fraudster sends you a 'collect' request disguised as a payment. Remember the golden rule: you never need to enter your UPI PIN to receive money. Banks and official companies will never ask for your PIN or OTP. If a deal seems too good to be true or a message creates a sense of panic, it is almost certainly a scam.
Enable All Security Features
Your smartphone and UPI apps come equipped with multiple layers of security—make sure you are using them. First, enable a strong screen lock on your phone, such as a fingerprint, face ID, or a complex PIN. Next, within your UPI app, enable the app lock feature, which requires separate authentication to open the app itself. Finally, and most critically, ensure that transaction notifications via SMS and email are turned on for all your linked bank accounts. These real-time alerts are your first line of defence, allowing you to spot any unauthorised activity the moment it happens. Reporting fraudulent transactions within three days gives you the strongest legal protection under RBI guidelines.
