hypeless

Scam of the week

Know the trick before it reaches you.

Stock market scams in India follow a few patterns. Each week we explain one, with a made-up message so you can see how it looks, and a link to the official warning.

Scam messages people sent usReport a scamCheck a message
Scam of the week19 Oct 2026

“Live trading” stream

A social media live shows real-time “trades” and tips while the chat pushes you to follow along.

Made-up exampleNot a real message

LIVE NOW: Watch me trade Nifty options in real time. Today's target: ₹50,000 profit before close. Drop “READY” in chat for my entry levels. Join VIP for the exact levels I take: [link]

Check a message like this

Red flags

  1. 1Live “trades” or real-time strategies on social media, with chat tips beside the stream
  2. 2Someone presents themselves as an expert and tells you when to enter or exit
  3. 3Claims of live profits or “targets” while the stream runs
  4. 4A push to a paid VIP group for the “exact levels”

Do this instead

  • Don't take investment decisions from live trading sessions on social media
  • Deal only with SEBI-registered intermediaries; look them up on SEBI's register
  • Paste any tip from the chat into our Tip Checker to see its warning signs
WhatsApp

Source: SEBI press release, 17 Aug 2026 “Caution to Investors regarding display of Live trading strategies on Social Media Platforms”
Hypeless · hypeless.in/scams

More scam patterns

The messages are made up. The patterns are real: each one links to an official warning.

Scam pattern 227 Sept 2026

Fake “learning” group

A free stock market class on WhatsApp that ends with a fake trading app.

Made-up exampleNot a real message

Welcome to Stock Masterclass VIP 2.0! Free daily lessons + 3 live calls from our Professor. Members made 18% this week (see screenshots above). For bigger profits, trade on our institutional app: [app link] Only 20 seats left. Offer closes tonight.

Check a message like this

Red flags

  1. 1A stranger added you to the group, or an ad pulled you in
  2. 2Other “members” keep posting profit screenshots: SEBI says some are part of the scam
  3. 3The app comes from a link or APK file, not the official app store
  4. 4The app shows big profits, but you can't take your money out

Do this instead

  • Leave and report the group. Don't click the app link
  • Only trade through apps of SEBI-registered brokers, downloaded from the official app store
  • Never send money to a personal or third-party bank account
WhatsApp

Scam pattern 327 Sept 2026

“Institutional account” offer

Guaranteed IPO allotment or shares below market price through a special account.

Made-up exampleNot a real message

Exclusive for our members only: Open an FII Institutional Account and get - Guaranteed allotment in every IPO - Shares 20% below market price (block deals) Transfer Rs 50,000 today to activate. Limited slots!

Check a message like this

Red flags

  1. 1“Institutional”, “FII” or “FPI” accounts offered to ordinary Indian residents
  2. 2Guaranteed IPO allotment, or IPO shares at a discount
  3. 3Shares “below market price” through block deals
  4. 4You must pay first to “activate” the account

Do this instead

  • Apply for IPOs only through your own bank or a SEBI-registered broker's app
  • Remember: SEBI says the foreign investor route isn't open to resident Indians, with limited exceptions
WhatsApp

Scam pattern 427 Sept 2026

Famous-name ads

An ad uses a well-known investor's or a big firm's name to pull you into a private group.

Made-up exampleNot a real message

[Famous investor's photo] “My secret stock group is now FREE for 7 days.” SEBI Regd. No. INA0000XXXXX | 100% accurate calls Tap to join our official WhatsApp community: [link]

Check a message like this

Red flags

  1. 1A famous name or big firm's logo in an ad that leads to WhatsApp or Telegram
  2. 2A registration number or “SEBI certificate” shown as proof
  3. 3“Official” group or handle that you can't find on the firm's own website
  4. 4Promises of “100% accurate” or risk-free calls

Do this instead

  • Look the number up on SEBI's register and contact the firm only through the details SEBI lists
  • Find the firm's real website and social handles yourself, not through the ad
  • Registered firms use numbers starting with 1600 for service calls to existing customers
WhatsApp

Scam pattern 527 Sept 2026

“We trade for you”

Someone offers to run your trading account for a share of the profits.

Made-up exampleNot a real message

Hello Sir, I am an expert fund manager. Minimum capital Rs 2 lakh in your demat account. Just share your login ID and password, I will trade for you. Risk-free profit. You pay me only 30% of profit.

Check a message like this

Red flags

  1. 1Asks for your trading login ID, password or OTP
  2. 2“Risk-free profits” with a minimum amount you must keep in the account
  3. 3They take a cut of profits, but losses stay in your account
  4. 4Shows off big profits made in “other clients'” accounts

Do this instead

  • Never share your login details or OTPs with anyone
  • If you already did, change your password and tell your broker right away
WhatsApp

Scam pattern 627 Sept 2026

Pay to get your money back

A “fee”, “tax” or “release charge” before you can withdraw, or to recover money you lost.

Made-up exampleNot a real message

Dear Investor, your withdrawal of Rs 8,40,000 is on hold. Pay 10% tax + Rs 15,000 release charge within 24 hours, or your account will be frozen. Our recovery team works with the cyber police.

Check a message like this

Red flags

  1. 1You must pay before you can take your own money out
  2. 2One fee is followed by another, and another
  3. 3They claim to be officials, police or a “recovery team”
  4. 4A deadline, and a threat that your money will be frozen

Do this instead

  • Stop paying. More payments won't release the money
  • Call the cybercrime helpline 1930 as soon as possible and report on cybercrime.gov.in (it's free)
WhatsApp

Sources: SEBI Investor website “Fake trading app scam: “Withdrawal blocked: excuses and fees arise” (PDF)”; Business Standard, 3 Jul 2025 “Senior citizen loses Rs 1.15 cr in cyber scam: Here's how to detect fraud”
Hypeless · hypeless.in/scams
Scam pattern 727 Sept 2026

“Operator” stock tips

A Telegram channel hypes a small company's shares, then the senders sell.

Made-up exampleNot a real message

OPERATOR NEWS (don't share outside) Big players entering small-cap XYZ tomorrow. Target 3x in 10 days. Buy before 9:30 am! Rocket is ready. Forward to your friends.

Check a message like this

Red flags

  1. 1“Operator”, “insider” or “big players entering” news about a small company
  2. 2“Buy now”, “to the moon” and multibagger targets
  3. 3Asked to forward it to others: more buyers push the price up
  4. 4The senders may already own the shares and sell once the price rises

Do this instead

  • Don't act on stock tips from strangers on social media
  • Paste the message into our Tip Checker to see its red flags
WhatsApp

The example messages are invented to show common patterns. Any resemblance to a real person, company, app or channel is accidental. We explain scam patterns; we don't say whether any person is a scammer, and we don't give buy, sell or hold views.

Official updates

The newest press releases from SEBI and the RBI, straight from their own websites.

SEBI press releases

See all on the official website

RBI press releases

See all on the official website

Report a scam

If you've lost money, act fast. Reporting is free, and it can help stop the same people reaching others.

  • Lost money or shared bank details?

    Call 1930

    The national cybercrime helpline. Call as soon as possible: the sooner you report, the better the chance of stopping the money.

    Call 1930

  • Report online

    cybercrime.gov.in

    The Government of India's National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. Report financial fraud and scam messages here.

    Open cybercrime.gov.in

  • Problem with a SEBI-registered broker or adviser?

    SEBI SCORES

    SEBI's complaints portal. It covers SEBI-registered entities only, not unregistered groups or apps.

    Open SCORES