Summary of this article
Fake accidental credit scammers transfer small amounts to build trust quickly.
Victims approve larger UPI payments under urgent, emotional pressure.
Verify details, report scams to 1930, and never share PINs.
The State Bank of India (SBI) has cautioned customers against the jumped deposit scam as part of National Cyber Security Month’s Special Campaign 6.0. An unexpected credit in a bank account may appear harmless, but fraudsters can use it to trick people into authorising larger payments. They may claim that the money was transferred by mistake and ask the recipient to return it, using the request to manipulate them into approving a much higher payment.
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the bank warned users, “Unexpected credit in your account? It’s a Trap!”
How Does The Jumped Deposit Scam Work?
In this scam, fraudsters send a small amount to a person’s bank account and then call, claiming that the money was transferred accidentally. They ask the recipient to return it urgently, usually creating a sense of pressure.
The fraudster may then trick the recipient into approving a UPI payment request for a much higher amount than the original credit. If the recipient fails to check the amount before entering their UPI PIN, they could authorise the larger payment and lose money.
According to SBI, scammers use the initial credit to establish trust before seeking a larger payment. The bank has urged customers to remain alert and verify every transaction before authorising it.
What Should You Do?
SBI has advised customers to block the number immediately and report the incident to their bank on priority. It also cautioned users, “Don’t fall for emotional blackmail or emergency UPI requests without confirmation.”
Customers should verify the amount and recipient before approving any UPI transaction and never enter their UPI PIN to receive money. If they suspect fraud, they should contact their bank immediately and report financial cyber fraud through helpline 1930. Complaints can also be filed at the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal at https://cybercrime.gov.in.
SBI has also advised customers to respond to calls prefixed with 1600, which the bank identifies as genuine banking calls. Users should nevertheless verify callers through official bank channels and never share their UPI PIN or one-time passwords (OTPs).
