India’s market regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), has introduced two major investor-protection measures to combat payment fraud and unauthorised intermediaries in the securities market. These initiatives, announced via a SEBI circular on June 11, 2025, and fully operational from October 1, 2025, are mandatory for all SEBI-registered investor-facing intermediaries.
Verified UPI Handles with ‘@valid’ suffix
In partnership with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), SEBI has launched exclusive “validated” UPI IDs for all SEBI-registered intermediaries that deal directly with investors (stock brokers, depository participants, mutual funds, etc.).
Key features:
- All such UPI IDs end with the suffix @valid and include a category-specific tag.
- Stock brokers: .brk (e.g., abc.brk@validhdfc)
- Mutual funds: .mf (e.g., xyz.mf@validicici)
- These become an additional safe payment option alongside net banking, NEFT/RTGS, etc.
‘SEBI Check’ – Instant Verification Tool
SEBI has launched a free self-verification portal/app called **SEBI Check** that lets investors confirm the authenticity of any intermediary’s payment details before transferring money. Using this digital verification tool, investors can independently confirm the bank account details and UPI IDs of registered intermediaries
What you can verify:
– UPI IDs
– Bank account numbers + IFSC codes (for NEFT/RTGS/IMPS)
How to use it:
– Website: https://siportal.sebi.gov.in/intermediary/sebi-check
– Or through the official SEBI Saarthi mobile app
These twin initiatives of Valid UPI Handles and SEBI Check, together, create a powerful double-layer protection for investors when making payments to SEBI-registered intermediaries. Combined, these two initiatives make investing in India significantly safer, more transparent, and more convenient – greatly reducing the risk of fraud and building stronger trust in the entire financial ecosystem.
Related Sources:
- Launch Announcement via SEBI Press Release (Oct-2025) – link
- Circular No.: SEBI/HO/DEPA-II/DEPA-II_SRG/P/CIR/2025/86 (Jun-2025) – link
