YouTube Influencers Fined 9.5 Crore: The Investing Trap!

Dear young investors, this is your wake-up call. Most of you are binge-watching YouTube videos daily before sleep to get motivated and for easy money. A few lakhs in just a month is a big and exciting deal, right? Then, I must talk to you. And if you’re already putting your hard-earned savings into stock market plans sold by smooth-talking influencers, let me stop you right here. Ravindra Balu Bharti, a financial influencer with over 17 Million subscribers across three YouTube channels, Business Coach, Bharti Share Market – Hindi / Marathi, just got slapped louder than ever. SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) fined him INR 9.5 crore for operating an unregistered investment advisory firm that tricked thousands of inexperienced investors.

But that’s not all. SEBI has also barred their company Ravindra Bharti Education Institute and team from stock market activities until April 2025.

So, what went wrong? And more importantly, what can we learn from this cliff throw?

How the Bharti Share Market Lured Investors?

Every YouTuber giving financial advice is well-spoken and well-dressed. They may attract you with flashy presentations, sentimental and reformer talks to promise high returns, push you, and make an impression that you can get rich quickly. You must be excited about this! Right? After all, the stock market seems like a golden ticket. That’s exactly what Ravindra Bharti Education Institute sold to its clients, cashing in dreams of desperate souls for big profits without any real groundwork.

Biggest problem: Bharti and the team needed to be registered with SEBI, which is mandatory for financial advice or trade recommendations. They marketed multiple investment plans to the same people at different times and different levels. Young and other inexperienced investors were clueless and unable to make their own decisions, so they trusted and lost. And, what surprised me was that Bharti and the team never disclosed the risks or explained the dangers of investing in volatile markets.

Instead of educating followers, Bharti’s company used misleading tactics to sell fake digital products like “expert advice” to people who didn’t know better. The result? SEBI’s investigation exposed a network that violated securities laws and failed to meet fiduciary duties. Simply put, they ignored a basic legal responsibility to protect their clients’ welfare.

The bottom line? INR 9.5 crores were unlawfully earned, countless subscribers were duped, and one influencer must pay the price for misguiding their fans.

Why Should We Care?

It’s such a big country; millions get lured into scams, so what? It may seem simple, but you will know the pain once it reaches you and in today’s scenario, that is not very far. Let’s be honest: social media made us all keen on quick fixes and advice from viral content. You see someone with a solid number of followers and think, “They must know what they’re talking about.” But popularity doesn’t equal credibility. Bharti’s case is a perfect example of why we need to be extra careful about where we get our financial advice.

People who fall for these scams are usually young, ambitious and desperate to make money fast. And trust me, I get it. The stock market looks glamorous, influencers make it sound easy, and the promise of high returns is beyond tempting. You don’t have to realise, as Bharti’s followers the hard way, that everything that glitters is not gold; let me explain what’s best to do!

The Smart Investor’s Guide

Before you plan out investing, better read the basics. This is helpful even if you’re 18, 24 or even 35 or anywhere in between, these tips can save you from falling into traps.

Do’s:

1. Research before investing in any stock and take time to understand market trends. Study the company’s performance, stock patterns, and reputation. YouTube is great for learning the basics, but don’t treat it as gospel truth. Enroll in credible courses or read verified resources to build your knowledge.
2. Always start with small investments. Think of it as a learning phase. Small losses won’t hurt as much, and you’ll understand how the market works.
3. Start investing surplus funds only as the stock market is risky. Never invest money you can’t afford to lose. Stick to funds that won’t affect your lifestyle.
4. Are you saving for a car? Marriage? Gift for Girlfriend? A holiday? Clear goals help you plan your investments better and stay focused.
5. Don’t put all your money in one stock or sector. Spread your investments across industries to minimise risk and always diversify your portfolio.
6. Divide your portfolio by building a “core” portfolio for long-term goals (like retirement) and a “satellite” portfolio for short-term opportunities.
7. Stay updated, follow market news, study price fluctuations and buy or sell stocks based on solid research, not your or your influencer’s gut feelings.
8. Remain a student forever by reading good books on trading, studying charts and treating every mistake as a learning opportunity. Trading is a skill, don’t mistake it for a gamble.

Don’ts:

1. If you’re buying random stocks hoping for a jackpot, stop right now. Investing requires logic, not luck.
2. Never follow unverified tips and trust free advice or random stock influencers. Do your research from SEBI or BSE/NSE sites.
3. It’s time you stop having unrealistic expectations; you can’t double your money overnight. Annual returns of 12% are great and anything more is a bonus.
4. Anticipate and never take uncalculated risks before investing. Blind decisions will cost you eyes!
5. This is a skill of numbers and logic, stop being emotional. The market doesn’t care about your feelings. So, be rational and invest in companies with strong fundamentals.
6. Pay attention to quality, look for companies that are transparent, maintain monthly reports and are reliable.

Walk with Caution

To all the young investors out there: trading is not easy, no matter what any YouTuber says. Since you are here reading my article, you all have brains. Better understand that it’s a skill that takes time, effort, and practice to master. Focus on learning first, not earning. Read books, follow credible experts, and always verify credentials. If someone promises quick riches, it’s probably a scam, shows you luxury goods and cash bundles, it’s probably a scam, shows you stocks and any other betting or easy money sites, it’s probably a scam.

No matter how big their following is, one can be wrong. They are not gods, and they are definitely not your financial advisors. Always cross-check advice, and don’t let anyone else decide how you spend your money.

At the end of the day, your money is your responsibility. Earn it, Protect it and Invest it wisely.

Don’t let flashy and clickbaity thumbnails fool you. The only “high return” worth chasing comes from patience, maths and smart decisions.

Start basic! Plan you Financial Management from Here!