If you are asked to pay tax, a security deposit or make a new investment to enable a withdrawal, pause before sending more money. Report the matter to your bank and the cybercrime portal, and keep records of the payments.
The profit shown in an app is not proof of your actual bank balance. Scammers may build trust by allowing small withdrawals at first and later block larger amounts. A screenshot bearing the name of SEBI or another organisation is also not sufficient proof of registration. The organisation and investment product should be verified against the relevant regulator’s official records.
What should you do now?
- Prepare a dated list of all deposits, the returns shown and the dates on which withdrawals were refused.
- Report the fraud to your bank. If you have suffered a financial loss, use 1930 and the cybercrime portal.
- Include the app URL, group admins, payment beneficiaries and any available agreement in your complaint.
Which documents should you keep?
UTRs, bank statements, screenshots of the app balance, chats and the website address.
Avoid this mistake
Repeatedly sending new money to recover funds already lost, or trusting a recovery agent, increases the risk.
A hypothetical example
A trading app shows a profit of ₹2 lakh but asks for ₹30,000 in tax before allowing a withdrawal. The app balance is not proof of actual profit. Before sending any new amount, check the organisation’s legitimacy and the transaction history.
Does receiving a small payout earlier prove that the investment is legitimate?
No. It may also be a strategy to gain your trust.
Legal basis and useful sources
- CBI warning on Digital Arrest and Investment Fraud, 2 July 2026
- Reporting cyber financial fraud — official instructions
This is general legal information. Advice may vary depending on your facts, applicable law and state rules.