- SEBI requires registered intermediaries to verify IDs for social media ads.
- Aims to stop scams on platforms like Google, Meta, and WhatsApp.
- Deadline to update contact details is April 30, 2025.
India’s financial watchdog, SEBI, rolled out new rules on Friday to tackle scams spreading on social media. Now, registered intermediaries—like stockbrokers or advisors—must prove who they are before advertising on platforms like Google and Meta. This comes as frauds promising easy money, fake reviews, and shady trading courses have spiked on sites like YouTube, Instagram, WhatsApp, and X. SEBI wants to keep investors safe and make the market fairer by making sure only legit players can promote online.
The rules say these intermediaries have to use the email and phone numbers they’ve already given to SEBI’s SI Portal to sign up on social media. Platforms will check these details before letting ads go live. It’s a team effort with social media companies to block scammers who trick people with big promises. SEBI’s given until April 30, 2025, for everyone to update their info on the SI Portal, so there’s time to get ready.
This step is part of SEBI’s bigger plan to watch digital spaces closely and protect people investing their money. With more ads popping up online, they’re trying to stop bad actors before they hurt too many folks. By tying ads to verified IDs, SEBI hopes it’ll be way tougher for frauds to sneak through on popular platforms, keeping the investment world cleaner and safer.
