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I paid a fake Research Analyst or installed a fake app. Where do I report it?

What to do in the first hour, which office handles which problem, and how to tell a real app from a copy.

Published 3 November 2026 · Potoos Research Services

The short answer. If you lost money, call 1930, the national helpline for financial cyber fraud, or report it at cybercrime.gov.in. Do it straight away. Tell your bank too. Stop paying, and do not move more money into the app. If the person used a real analyst's name, tell that analyst through the contact details on SEBI's register. SEBI's SCORES portal is for complaints against SEBI-regulated entities, so use it when your complaint is about a registered analyst.

In the first hour

  1. Stop sending money

    Do not pay any further amount, whatever reason you are given. Do not move more money into the app or the platform. SEBI's press release of 22 October 2026 tells investors not to open an account on, or transfer money to, any trading platform or app suggested in invitation-only WhatsApp groups.

  2. Call 1930 or report online

    The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, run under the Ministry of Home Affairs, says: “Any victim of financial cyber fraud can dial helpline number 1930”. It also says to report immediately at cybercrime.gov.in or on 1930. On the portal, choose to report a cybercrime, then register with your name and an Indian mobile number. You get a one-time password on that number. The portal says complaints are handled by the police of the State or Union Territory you select.

  3. Tell your bank

    Call your bank on the number printed on your card, passbook or the bank's own website. Tell them which payment went to the fraud, with the date, amount and reference number.

  4. Save the evidence

    Do not delete the chat or the app before you have screenshots. The cybercrime complaint form asks for the bank reference number of each payment, the suspect's account details if you have them, the suspected website links or social media handles, and the suspect's mobile number and email ID. So keep the payment receipts, the UPI ID or account you paid, the phone numbers, the group name and the app's name and link.

  5. Then remove the app

    Once you have your screenshots, uninstall the app. If you gave anyone a login, password or OTP for your trading, demat or bank account, change those passwords and tell your broker and bank.

Which office handles which problem

Money lost to a fake person or app
1930, or cybercrime.gov.in
Complaint against a SEBI-registered analyst
The analyst first, then SEBI SCORES
Not sure if someone is registered
SEBI's register, or the SEBI toll-free helpline
Someone used a real analyst's name
Tell that analyst too

Cybercrime first, when the person is not registered. The cybercrime portal is the Government of India's route for reporting online fraud, including financial scams.

SEBI SCORES, when the analyst is registered. SCORES describes itself as a platform where “Complainants can lodge grievances pertaining to securities market against SEBI regulated entities like listed companies, Registered Intermediaries and Market Infrastructure Institutions.” You first raise the complaint with the analyst. If you are not satisfied, you go to scores.sebi.gov.in, and after that you may use the Smart ODR portal. SCORES also says any grievance sent by email to SEBI addresses will not be attended to, so use the portal.

The SEBI helpline, for questions. SEBI's toll-free numbers are 1800-266-7575 and 1800-22-7575. SEBI says the helpline runs from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except Sundays and declared public holidays in Maharashtra, in seven languages including Tamil. It gives guidance. It does not give legal opinions.

The real analyst, when your fraud used their name. Impostors copy a registered analyst's name and number. Tell the real analyst, using the email or phone shown on SEBI's register, not the one the fraud gave you.

How to spot a fake app or a fake analyst

How to check this yourself

  1. Check the name on SEBI's register

    Open SEBI's register and type the registration number into the search box. The name and city must match the website. Our guide How to check that a Research Analyst is actually registered shows each click. SEBI's press release also points to sebi.gov.in/intermediaries.html for registration status.

  2. Check the app against SEBI's list

    Open SEBI's investor support page. Scroll to “Authorised Mobile Apps of SEBI Registered Intermediaries”. For Research Analysts, it links to a BSE page, bseindia.com/IARA/weblink_ra.aspx. SEBI labels this as the list of authorised apps for Research Analysts. If the analyst's app is listed there, compare that link with the one you were sent.

  3. Check the payment account

    Open SEBI Check. Type the UPI ID, or the account number and IFSC. If it is not confirmed, do not pay.

If someone says they are Potoos Research Services

This page is published by Potoos Research Services about itself.

Potoos Research Services is a SEBI-registered Research Analyst, Vinoth Kumar S, INH000027380, Chennai. Search INH000027380 on SEBI's register and match the name and the city to this site. A match alone is not proof, because impostors copy these details. So before you pay, reach us through the contact details on the register and confirm the payment account.

Our calls are published in the Potoos app. It is on Android, from the Google Play listing linked on our homepage (play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=in.potoosresearch.app). The app is free to download, and calls need an active plan. Without an Android phone, you can use web.potoosresearch.in in any browser. If you were sent a different link or file in our name, tell us through the contact details on SEBI's register.

Sources

Checked on 3 November 2026

Common questions

Should I report a fake Research Analyst to SEBI or to the cybercrime police?

If you lost money to someone who is not registered, report it first on 1930 or at cybercrime.gov.in, and tell your bank. SEBI's SCORES portal is for complaints against SEBI-regulated entities such as registered intermediaries. Use SCORES when your complaint is about a registered Research Analyst, after raising it with the analyst first.

What is the 1930 helpline?

1930 is the national helpline number for financial cyber fraud. The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal says any victim of financial cyber fraud can dial 1930, and says to report immediately at cybercrime.gov.in or on 1930.

What should I keep before I delete a fake app or chat?

Take screenshots first. Keep the payment receipts with bank reference numbers, the UPI ID or bank account you paid, the phone numbers and email IDs used, the group or channel name, and the app name and link. The cybercrime complaint form asks for these details.

How do I know an app really belongs to a SEBI-registered Research Analyst?

Install it only from the link on the analyst's own website, after checking that website's name and city against SEBI's register. SEBI's investor support page also lists authorised mobile apps of registered intermediaries, with a BSE link for Research Analysts. An app that asks you to deposit trading money into it, or asks for your login or OTP, is a warning sign.

Someone on WhatsApp says they are from Potoos Research Services. What do I do?

Check INH000027380 on SEBI's register, then contact us through the contact details shown on the register, not the number that messaged you. Confirm the payment account with us before you pay anything, and run it through SEBI Check.

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