Investment Protection Starts With You

HE Securities and Exchange Board of India, the stock market regulator, has warned about unscrupulous entities using social media platforms to fool you.

- RAJAS KELKAR

They add you to the so-called 'VIP' groups posing as experts advising rich people. You are then asked to put money into accounts promising higher returns.

In a world where those who cheat have access to technology, you, too, can use the same weapon to protect yourself. If you say 'you are unaware', it is no longer than an excuse. The online world is rich enough to provide basic knowledge of factors influencing your investments. The role of regulators is to provide you with early warning signals. However, the onus is on you to utilize the resources at your disposal.

When your columnist began writing about stock market trends in the 90s, the most common weapon for investor protection professional advisors offered was knowledge. 'An informed investor is a protected investor' went a slogan then. With the enormous amount of information available through artificial intelligence tools and other online resources, you are better equipped to protect your money than an investor in the 90s. The slogan remains the same even today.

Where to begin