Sonepur, Oct 21: The festive shopping rush in Odisha has raised concerns over digital payment fraud, with a suspected UPI fraud case reported at Minabazar in Sonepur block on Tuesday.

According to reports, a young man purchased items from a stall and claimed to have paid through PhonePe. He reportedly showed the shopkeeper a “payment successful” screen on his mobile phone.

However, when the shopkeeper checked his bank account, no money had been credited. This raised suspicion about the authenticity of the payment shown on the mobile screen.

The incident highlights the need for shopkeepers to remain vigilant during the festive season, when busy markets and heavy customer footfall can make it easier for fraudulent transactions to go unnoticed.

Shopkeepers are advised to verify payments through their bank accounts or official payment notifications rather than relying solely on screenshots shown by customers.