Mumbai, Nov 7 (NationPress) The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has identified over one lakh misleading messages and posts that are circulating on various digital platforms, part of its ‘Sebi versus Scam’ initiative, according to the Chairman of the market regulator, Tuhin Kanta Pandey.

During a recent media event, Pandey cautioned that unregulated financial influencers pose a significant risk to investor safety. He referenced a recent SEBI survey indicating that nearly 62 percent of investors depend on influencer recommendations when making investment choices, highlighting the pressing need for enhanced investor education and awareness.

“Investor protection starts with educating investors, particularly in a climate where deceptive content proliferates quickly,” he remarked.

Initiated to combat the dissemination of misinformation, the ‘Sebi versus Scam’ campaign emphasizes proactive monitoring and public awareness. SEBI has ramped up its surveillance of social media, increased efforts to remove misleading content, and instructed stock exchanges to regularly publish lists of verified broker apps.

Thanks to new verification tools like Valid UPI and Sebi Check, investors can now verify bank accounts and QR codes associated with registered intermediaries. These measures are considered essential safeguards against emerging cyber frauds, according to Pandey.

He further elaborated that SEBI's mission involves not only closing the knowledge gap but also promoting active investor engagement. To foster trust and inclusivity, the regulator aims to expand its investor education efforts through digital channels, multimedia formats, grassroots outreach, and communication in various regional languages.

This initiative is part of SEBI's broader strategy to protect individual investors from fraudulent trading applications, spoof websites, inflated return claims, and unregistered advisory services that continue to exploit the investing public.