A peculiar Google Pay Pocket Money issue is currently going viral on social media platforms. While Google Pay Pocket Money is a new feature introduced by Google, several consumers have been taking to platforms like X to highlight a scam that is reportedly taking place after they click on the Pocket Money icon.
“it’s viral on social media that once you click the pocket money icon, the linked bank accounts will get hacked. Please check,” said a user named Harish. “Do not touch or try to open the heart symbol in your Gpay list. If you do all your funds get stolen,” says another user who also claims that someone he knew lost Rs 20,000 after clicking the icon. “Is this true as there is a handshake logo called pocket money or something near to our last or recent payment person’ name in Gpay, and if we touch or try to open, the hackers will access our money via scam?” asks another concerned users on the viral Google Pay Pocket Money issue.
However, all the allegations seem baseless as there is no evidence to support these claims. Google has also clarified on the issue saying: “Pocket Money in Google Pay is a new feature built on UPI Circle in partnership with NPCI. It is a completely safe and secure feature that allows your loved ones without a bank account to make UPI payments with Google Pay. Don’t rely on rumors, get the official breakdown on how it works directly from our Help Center”
Google also adds that the feature can be used by taking the following steps:
- Tap “Pocket Money” icon under the People section on Google Pay.
- Follow the instructions to add loved ones.
- Set limits or choose approvals for payments.
Google Pay has described the requirements and controls for setting up “Pocket Money” through its UPI Circle feature, enabling a Primary user to manage payments for dependents or trusted contacts. To activate the service, the Primary user must have an active bank account linked on Google Pay and can add up to five Secondary users.
For onboarding, the Secondary user’s mobile number must be saved in the Primary user’s contacts, and they should have the Google Pay app registered with the same number along with a valid UPI ID or UPI Circle QR. The feature also offers flexible payment management options, which means that the primary users can either opt for full delegation by setting a monthly spending limit of up to Rs 15,000, allowing transactions without approval, or choose partial delegation, where each payment request raised by the Secondary user requires approval before completion.
How to Set Up Google Pay Pocket Money?
To set-up Google Pay Pocket money, users will have to do the following:
- The user is required to open the Google Pay application.
- From the top right corner, the Profile picture must be tapped.
- Users should scroll down to select “UPI Circle” and then proceed with the “Set up pocket money on UPI Circle” option.
- The Secondary user’s name or mobile number needs to be entered.
- The relevant UPI ID of the Secondary user should be selected, followed by clicking on “Confirm”.
- In cases where the UPI ID is not visible, the Secondary user’s UPI Circle QR code can be scanned.
- Users can then move ahead to configure the approval settings as per their preference.
