SECP cautions people against surge in fake investment schemes

ISLAMABAD: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has again cautioned people regarding a surge in fraudulent investment schemes being promoted on social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
These schemes are falsely presented as legitimate investment advisory services or training courses with the intent to deceive people into investing their money in these fraudulent schemes.
These scams often lure individuals by making false promises of extraordinary profits with minimal risk, offering so-called “insider tips” in exchange for membership fees or investment via the advertised platforms.
To appear credible, the fraudsters frequently misuse the names, images, and logos of well-known business professionals, reputable companies, SECP, and the Pakistan Stock Exchange.
Since August 2024, the SECP has been issuing warnings and cautioning the people against these fake schemes. Additio­nal­­ly, a pop-up warning message has been deplo­yed on the SECP’s official website.
The SECP’s efforts are further supported by an awareness campaign launched by the Pakistan Stock Exchange.
To ensure a comprehensive and coordinated response, the SECP has informed key regulatory and law-enforcement agencies, including the Federal Investigation Age­n­­­cy (FIA), the Pakistan Telecom­munication Authority (PTA), and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) about these fake schemes.
These agencies are expected to take appropriate legal action aga­inst individuals and entities invol­ved in such fraudulent activities.
The SECP has also brought this matter to Meta’s attention, urging immediate steps to safeguard users in Pakistan and to preserve the integrity of its platforms.
The SECP has urged the people to remain vigilant and verify the authenticity of any investment scheme before committing any funds and the individuals should not share personal or financial information with unverified sources or through social media platforms to avoid falling victim to financial scams.
Published in Dawn, November 2nd, 2024