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

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 incl