RBI brings cross border transactions under e-mandate rules, allows customer to opt out anytime
INDIA — By BharatSecure Threat Intelligence Team ·
Verdict: Suspicious | Risk Score: 5/10 | Severity: Medium
Category: upi_fraud
Scam Intelligence: RBI brings cross border transactions under e-mandate rules, allows customer to opt out anytime
Proprietary signals from BharatSecure's scam-tracking database.
| Last reported | Apr 22, 2026 |
How RBI brings cross border transactions under e-mandate rules, allows customer to opt out anytime Works
The Reserve Bank of India is implementing enhanced digital fraud prevention measures for cross-border recurring electronic payments made via cards, prepaid instruments, and UPI. These transactions will now be governed by E-mandate rules, allowing customers to opt-out and setting limits for recurring payments to ensure secure transactions.
How This Scam Works — Detailed Explanation
Scammers typically exploit the notion of convenience in cross-border transactions, especially in the context of the recent RBI guidelines that allow recurring payments through e-mandates. Victims are often approached through social media platforms like WhatsApp or even via phishing emails that mimic trusted sources such as banks or payment platforms. In these setups, scammers might pose as financial advisors or customer service representatives, claiming to help users save money on international transactions. They may suggest an e-mandate to ease recurring payments, enticing victims with promises of a seamless and quick process without disclosing the risks involved.
Once contact is established, scammers utilize psychological manipulation to lure victims into compliance. They may create a sense of urgency, pressuring the target to act quickly to avoid a supposed penalty on their accounts or to take advantage of a limited-time offer. Another tactic is to flaunt authority by referencing regulatory guidelines from the RBI or the importance of opting into new payment methods for enhanced security. This creates a false sense of legitimacy, allowing the scammer to coax victims into sharing sensitive information like Aadhaar numbers, passwords, or even OTPs (One-Time Passwords) under the guise of facilitating a secure mandate.
As victims become entangled in the scam, the ripple effects can be devastating. For instance, a victim may receive a call or message claiming that their bank account requires immediate attention due to a suspicious e-mandate related to a cross-border payment. Unsuspecting users might then authenticate a transaction through UPI, concluding that they are complying with legitimate RBI procedures. Unfortunately, they are merely helping scammers siphon funds from their accounts. Accounts associated with e-mandates can lead to unauthorized recurring debits that accumulate quickly, leading to substantial financial loss, with reported figures indicating that in 2022, victims lost over ₹200 crore due to such frauds nationwide.
The broader economic impact of these scams is alarming. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the increase in digital payment fraud is a significant issue in India, exacerbated by the shift to online transactions during the pandemic. The RBI has continuously worked to combat this by enforcing regulations and guidelines, such as the recent implementation of e-mandate rules. However, ACCORD (Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre) and CERT-In have suggested that user awareness remains critically low, with many individuals unaware of how to differentiate between genuine communications and fraudulent attempts.
Identifying these scams compared to legitimate communications is crucial. Legitimate institutions rarely ask for sensitive information through phone calls or unsolicited messages. When communicating about an e-mandate, banks typically provide their official channels for verification. Always cross-reference any links or numbers shared via these communications, and systematically verify direct claims with your bank or authorized personnel. Watching for signs—certain phrases, urgent requests for personal information, and non-secure communication channels—can help various persons spot the differences clear enough to discern between the real and the frauds.
Visual Intelligence:
BharatSecure's AI has identified this as a used in scams targeting Indian users.
Who Does RBI brings cross border transactions under e-mandate rules, allows customer to opt out anytime Target?
General public across India
Red Flags — How to Identify RBI brings cross border transactions under e-mandate rules, allows customer to opt out anytime
- RBI
- cross border transactions
- e-mandate
- UPI
- digital fraud
- recurring payments
What To Do If You Encounter RBI brings cross border transactions under e-mandate rules, allows customer to opt out anytime
- Report any suspicious activity to the cybercrime helpline at 1930 or visit cybercrime.gov.in.
- Contact your bank's customer service immediately if you believe your UPI account has been compromised.
- Opt-out of any unauthorized e-mandates through your bank's app or website.
- Check your bank statements regularly to spot any unauthorized recurring payments.
- Educate yourself about new RBI guidelines concerning cross-border transactions.
- Notify your contacts to avoid falling for similar scams.
How to Report RBI brings cross border transactions under e-mandate rules, allows customer to opt out anytime in India
- Call 1930 — National Cyber Crime Helpline (24x7)
- File a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in
- Contact your bank immediately if money was lost
- Call RBI helpline: 14440 for banking fraud
Frequently Asked Questions
- What should I do if I shared my OTP in a UPI fraud scam?
- Immediately contact your bank's helpline (SBI 1800-11-1109 or HDFC 1800-202-6161) to block your account, and report the incident to the cybercrime helpline at 1930.
- How can I identify this specific e-mandate scam?
- This scam often impersonates legitimate bank communications, pressuring you for immediate action regarding e-mandates. Always verify claims with official bank sources.
- How do I report this type of scam in India?
- You can report such scams to the cybercrime helpline at 1930 or online at cybercrime.gov.in. Additionally, inform your bank of any fraudulent transactions.
- What steps can I take to recover money or protect my accounts after this scam?
- Immediately contact your bank to report the unauthorized transactions, block your account, and follow their procedures for recovering funds, which may include filing a FIR.
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