New Delhi: Capital markets regulator Sebi on Wednesday launched two key initiatives—validated UPI Handles and ‘SEBI Check’—to enhance payment security for investors and curb fraudulent fund collections by unregistered entities.
Developed in collaboration with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the new facility allows UPI IDs of Sebi-registered intermediaries to carry the exclusive “@valid” handle with category-specific suffixes, such as .brk for brokers and .mf for mutual funds. This will enable investors to easily identify legitimate entities.
According to Sebi, major brokers serving over 90% of investors, along with all mutual funds, have already adopted the @valid handle. The feature, available alongside existing payment modes like NEFT, RTGS, and IMPS, offers investors flexibility in choosing their transaction channel.
Payments made via these handles will display a distinctive “thumbs-up inside a green triangle” icon to confirm authenticity. A matching QR code ensures convenient, error-free transactions. If the symbol is absent, investors are warned that the entity may not be Sebi-registered.
In addition, Sebi has launched “SEBI Check”, a tool allowing investors to independently verify bank account details and UPI IDs of registered intermediaries. Verification can be done via the SEBI Check platform, the Saarthi app, or the Sebi portal, using either the @valid UPI ID or the intermediary’s account number and IFSC code.
“These initiatives provide assured security, prevent fraud, and enhance transparency in investor payments,” Sebi said, urging investors to use the @valid handle and verify details before transferring funds.
Sebi emphasized that the rollout demonstrates its commitment to protecting investors, maintaining market integrity, and strengthening digital trust in India’s securities market.
