SEBI Launches @Valid UPI Handles and Checking Tool to Curb Payment Frauds

Moneylife Digital Team 03 October 2025

Investor Interest

Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has rolled out two new security initiatives for validated UPI handles with the ‘@valid’ suffix and a verification tool called ‘SEBI Check’ to safeguard investors against fraudulent transfers and unauthorised intermediaries.

In collaboration with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), SEBI has introduced exclusive ‘@valid’ UPI IDs for all registered investor-facing intermediaries, including brokers and mutual funds. So far, major brokers covering more than 90% of the investor base and all mutual fund houses have adopted the system.

Each UPI ID carries the ‘@valid’ suffix along with a category-specific tag. For instance, brokers will use the ‘.brk’ suffix, while mutual funds will carry ‘.mf’. Examples include ‘abc.brk@validhdfc’ or ‘xyz.mf@validicici’. These validated handles act as an additional payment option alongside existing modes like net banking and conventional transfers.

A notable feature is the visual authentication indicator. When investors initiate a payment to a verified UPI handle, a ‘thumbs-up’ symbol inside a green triangle appears on the payment screen. If absent, it signals a potential risk, alerting users to possible unauthorised recipients. SEBI has also introduced QR codes embedded with the thumbs-up logo for quick, error-free payments.

To complement this, the market regulator has launched ‘SEBI Check’, a self-verification tool allowing investors to confirm the legitimacy of registered intermediaries before transferring funds. This facility supports verification not only for UPI handles but also for bank details used in NEFT, RTGS, and IMPS transactions.

Investors can access SEBI Check via the regulator’s website at https://siportal.sebi.gov.in/intermediary/sebi-check or through SEBI’s Saarthi mobile application. Using the tool, investors can verify bank account numbers, IFSC codes or UPI IDs before making payments.

SEBI has strongly urged retail investors to adopt these verified handles and always cross-check account details to ensure that funds are routed only to authorised entities.

According to SEBI, these measures are expected to greatly minimise fraud risk and eliminate the diversion of funds to unregistered intermediaries. By offering assured security, instant fraud detection through visual cues and a transparent verification system, the regulator aims to strengthen trust and confidence in digital transactions within the securities market.

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