The Securities and Exchange Board of India issued a public caution after detecting fraudsters circulating forged notices demanding payment of Securities Transaction Tax (STT) using SEBI’s name and letterhead. SEBI clarified that it does not issue notices to remit STT amounts and that STT is levied on stock exchange transactions and collected by brokers, not paid directly to SEBI. The regulator also reported cases of scammers impersonating SEBI officials, SEBI offices and SEBI email identities, using SEBI’s logo and seal to solicit information or payments and divert funds to fraudulent accounts. SEBI advised investors to verify any enforcement action on its website, make any order, settlement or recovery payments only through SEBI’s official online payment gateway, and confirm that SEBI emails originate from the @sebi.gov.in domain, with official directories and office addresses available on SEBI’s website.
Securities & Exchange Board of India 2026-02-26
Securities and Exchange Board of India warns investors about fake Securities Transaction Tax payment notices and SEBI impersonation
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issued a warning about fraudsters using forged notices and SEBI's name to demand Securities Transaction Tax payments. SEBI clarified that it does not issue such notices and that the tax is collected by brokers. Investors are advised to verify enforcement actions on SEBI's website and ensure payments are made through SEBI's official channels.