In a major step to bolster investor protection and curb online financial fraud, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) will launch two key initiatives – validated UPI handles and a digital verification tool called SEBI Check on October 1, 2025. These measures are designed to tackle the growing menace of impersonation and unauthorized fund collection by fraudsters posing as SEBI-registered entities.
Citing a sharp rise in scams involving fake investment schemes and unverified payment links, SEBI stated, “The root cause is lack of verification.” The new tools aim to ensure that investors know exactly who they’re transferring money to when investing in securities or mutual funds.
What Are Validated UPI Handles?
From October 1, all SEBI-registered intermediaries collecting funds via UPI must use verified and structured UPI IDs. These UPI handles will follow a clear format – a readable username followed by category-specific suffixes like ‘brk’ for brokers or ‘mf’ for mutual funds, and ending with ‘@valid’ along with the bank name.
To visually affirm authenticity, a green triangle with a thumbs-up icon will appear on payment screens linked to these verified handles. Additionally, all intermediaries will offer QR codes embedded with this visual cue, enabling investors to scan and verify on the go.
Introducing SEBI Check
Complementing the UPI initiative, SEBI Check is a new digital tool that allows users to verify:
- UPI IDs by scanning QR codes or manual input
- Bank account numbers and IFSC codes
- All payment credentials against SEBI’s official database
