Financial Fraud Awareness | Expert Market Intelligence
Research Analyst Risk & Scam Warnings to Investors

Caution to investors on stock market scams through social media platforms.

Protecting yourself from social media scams in the securities market: social media has transformed how we connect and share information — but some entities exploit these platforms to lure and deceive unsuspecting investors.

These entities employ various strategies to gain the trust and confidence of potential investors
01

How these scams operate

Four tactics fraudulent entities commonly use to gain an investor's trust.

Unsolicited Invitations

They often send unsolicited links to join WhatsApp Groups (such as VIP Groups or Free Trading Courses) to entice prospective clients.

Fake Profiles

These entities create fraudulent profiles that present them as experts in the securities market.

Impersonation

Frequently, they impersonate SEBI-registered intermediaries, well-known public figures, celebrities, CEOs, or MDs of established organizations.

Fake Testimonials

They mislead investors by showcasing fabricated testimonials from group members, claiming substantial profits. As a result, investors are tricked into transferring funds to these entities' bank accounts, with false promises of similar high returns.

Given this situation, investors are urged to be cautious and not trust unsolicited messages from unverified individuals, and to avoid joining questionable WhatsApp Groups or Communities.
02

Guidelines for investors

How to keep every engagement within verified, SEBI-registered channels.

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Engage only with SEBI-registered intermediaries and utilize authentic trading apps. Verify the registration status of entities with SEBI before making any investments.

SEBI Registration Verification →
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Conduct transactions solely through the official trading apps of SEBI-registered intermediaries.

SEBI Investor Support →
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Investors should only communicate through the genuine social media handles of SEBI-registered entities.

SEBI is releasing this statement to alert investors about the widespread fraud and scams perpetrated by unscrupulous entities, and to provide guidance on how to protect themselves while engaging in the securities market through SEBI-registered intermediaries.
03

Tips from a Research Analyst

Reducing your risk of stock market scams via social media platforms — follow these six steps in order.

Step One
Search for the Research Analyst's name at SEBI's official website .
Step Two
Obtain the email address and phone number of that Research Analyst.
Step Three
Communicate with the Research Analyst regarding products and services exclusively through the email address provided on the SEBI portal mentioned above.
Step Four
If the Research Analyst responds from the same email address, you can be assured you are communicating with a genuine SEBI-registered professional.
Step Five
Always pay after verifying details through SEBI check , and to a @valid UPI-ID and through the Centralized Fee Collection Mechanism for Investment Advisers and Research Analysts (CeFCoM).
Step Six
If they respond from a different email address and refuse to give details, @valid UPI and CeFCoM for payments, then disregard the communication, as they may be impersonators attempting to scam you out of your hard-earned savings.

Report financial fraud

If you suspect you've been targeted by a scam, act quickly through these official channels.

Cyber Crime Reporting Portal
cybercrime.gov.in →
Register Your Financial Fraud Complaint
cybercrime.gov.in/Webform/Accept.aspx →

Not sure if you're speaking to the real Research Analyst?

Confirm registration and contact details directly through MH Trade Hub before sharing any information or making a payment.

Email mhtradehub@gmail.com