What happened
A resident of Kerala says his bank froze his account after he received two unfamiliar UPI credits and chose not to return them, fearing a scam. He argues the freeze is unlawful while the bank cites fraud-prevention measures.
A Kerala man in a social media post reported receiving two unknown UPI payments but chose not to return them, suspecting a scam. A Phone Pe user named Puthumbaka Suma had transferred ₹2000 on 31 August and another ₹4000 on 3 September. The man of Malayali decent alleged that his account was frozen by HDFC Bank without any prior notice.
He tagged Kerala Police to alert the authorities as he claimed that it was an illegal move. Taking to X, he wrote, “Kerala Police I’d like to bring to your notice that on the 31st and 4th of August I received two unknown payments via UPI. I did not send it back as I thought it was some scam.” He further stated that the sender had contacted him through WhatsApp, asking for return of the entire of the entire amount.
When you receive funds you did not expect, especially via UPI, you should contact your bank promptly and avoid using the money until the situation is resolved. Gather transaction details and respond to any bank requests to help verify the source of the credits.
- Preserve evidence: note the date, amount, and any messages linked to the credits and block any further use of the funds.
- Engage with your bank: use the official grievance channel or branch to explain your position and supply any supporting documents.
- Know your next steps: if the bank does not resolve the matter quickly, you can escalate to the Banking Ombudsman or other regulatory channels in your country.
Rules and customer rights
Rules around mistaken credits generally require recipients to cooperate with banks during investigations. Banks may freeze accounts to protect customers and the system from potential fraud while they verify the credits.
- Right to information: banks should inform you about any action affecting your account and the reasons for it.
- Right to be heard: you can present your side with supporting documents.
- Right to redress: unresolved disputes can be taken up with the bank’s grievance redressal system and, if needed, the Banking Ombudsman.
- Timeframes vary; check the relevant regulator guidelines for deadlines and processes.