New restrictions to digital, QR code payments; here’s what you need to know

NEW DELHI: The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has introduced new rules to prevent fraud in digital payments. Now, sending or receiving money using QR codes that include UPI addresses is banned for international transactions. This means people can no longer send money from abroad by sharing QR code images through apps like WhatsApp. The practice of receiving money in India by scanning such QR codes from foreign countries is also stopped.

UPI-based apps have been told to identify and restrict customers who try to scan QR codes in this way. However, if you are in a foreign country where UPI is available, you can still scan QR codes directly with your phone camera to make payments. This method is not affected by the new rules.

For domestic transactions, there is now a limit of Rs 2000 for domestic QR share & payment of transactions to non-verified merchants. NPCI says this step is to stop financial fraud. UPI-based payments from India are currently available in seven countries, including France, Mauritius, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and the UAE.