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SEBI Removed 70,000 Fraud Investment Handles and Deceptive Posts since October: Ananth Narayan
Moneylife Digital Team 24 March 2025
Investor Interest
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has successfully taken down over 70,000 fraudulent investment handles and misleading social media posts since October 2024, according to Ananth Narayan, whole-time member (WTM) of SEBI. 
 
Speaking at the 'ASPIRE 2025' event organised by the Association of Registered Investment Advisors (ARIA) in Mumbai, Mr Narayan highlighted SEBI's proactive stance in combating unregistered investment advisers and fraudsters exploiting rising public interest in investments.
 
The WTM noted that SEBI has been working closely with social media companies to identify and eliminate misleading content that could potentially harm investors. He stressed the importance of curbing the activities of unregistered investment advisers (IAs) and research analysts (RAs) who falsely claim to offer credible financial advice.
 
"Together, we need to ensure investor protection and awareness while furthering sustained capital formation," Mr Narayan stated. He also acknowledged the significant challenge posed by unregistered entities in maintaining trust within the investment community.
 
Mr Narayan reiterated SEBI's commitment to minimising type1 errors (when misleading or harmful practices occur) as well as type-2 errors (when regulatory barriers hinder legitimate business activities), stressing the need for a balanced and pragmatic regulatory approach to secure sustained capital formation.
 
In an effort to further enhance investor safety, the market regulator is also promoting the use of the UPI 'Payright' handle to clearly identify SEBI-registered entities. This initiative aims to build a gated virtual community that fosters transparency and reduces the risk of fraudulent schemes.
 
Mr Narayan, the SEBI WTM, also discussed the growing role of domestic mutual funds (MFs) in the Indian investment landscape, noting that domestic equity-oriented schemes have witnessed unprecedented inflows over the past five years, vastly outpacing foreign portfolio investment (FPI) flows. As of December 2024, mutual funds accounted for 10% of the National Stock Exchange (NSE)’s total market-capitalisation, up from 3.9% a decade earlier.
 
He further pointed out that SEBI's focus on investor education and awareness remains a core part of its mission. To better inform outreach strategies, the regulator is conducting a nationwide survey on investor attitudes and behaviours, he added.
 
The WTM also called for more collaboration between SEBI and industry stakeholders, including ARIA, to enhance self-regulation and promote best practices. He expressed the hope that ARIA could evolve into a quasi-self-regulatory organisation (SRO), similar to the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI).
Comments
sgraghu2008
3 months ago
Happ to read your stance in curbing unwarranted and disgorging elements within social media media which harm investor sentiments. Plz do create an interface wherein members of general public could report such incidents fast without registering on the portal
Reply
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