SEBI Issues Advisory After Pune Brothers Lose Rs 2.45 Crore To Online Trading Scam

Mumbai: SEBI issued an advisory for investors after a 53-year-old man in Pune and his brother lost Rs 2.45 crore in an online trading scam executed through a WhatsApp group,

Urging investors to be cautious of fraudulent investment schemes and apps,  SEBI said that scammers impersonating as legitimate registered intermediaries are carrying out fraudulent activities via social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp. To lure and trap customers, they promise guaranteed high returns, The Times of India reported.

SEBI also stated that to verify details of registered depository participants (DPs), investors can verify the details of Central Depository Services Limited (CDSL) on the official website https://www.cdslindia.com/DP/dplist.aspx.

Some of the DPs provide online services to investors related to demat accounts such as online account opening and online holding/transactions statements, SEBI said.

“If your DP is providing various depository-related services in online mode, you may also avail online closure facility from your DP. Please note that any official communication of CDSL is made only through its official website www.cdslindia.com and its official social media handles – Facebook: @cdslindia, Instagram: @cdslindia, Koo: @cdslindia, LinkedIn: @cdslindia, X (Formerly known as twitter): @cdslindia, YouTube: @CDSLIndiaLtd for latest updates,” the advisory stated.

The Pune brothers who lost Rs 2.45 crore were added to a WhatsApp group and promised huge profits through online trading. But police found it was just a screen software.