SEBI introduces Verified Badge for Trading Apps to Curb Fake App Scams

Most people think risk begins after you invest. But today, the threat starts much earlier. With the advent of technology, digital scams are also on the rise. Fake trading apps have become a new reality.

Today’s fake trading apps are sophisticated, they're multiplying, and most investors can't tell the difference. SEBI has flagged a sharp rise in fraudulent trading apps built to look identical to real broker platforms. Same design, similar names, dashboards that even show fake profits. They don't look suspicious. That's exactly what makes them dangerous.

The trap isn't set inside the market. It's set before you even open one - at the moment you search for and download a trading app.

The good news is SEBI has introduced a VERIFIED BADGE on Google Play store so you don’t get scammed. 

In March 2026, SEBI partnered with Google to introduce a verification system for stock trading apps on the Play Store. From now on, apps offered by SEBI-registered brokers will carry a visible, verified label: a direct visual signal of legitimacy right at the point of download.

The logic is simple: if the verified label is there, the app traces back to a regulated broker. If it isn't, that absence alone is reason to pause.

This matters because most fraudulent apps don't fail on functionality - they fail on legitimacy. And to hide that, they rely heavily on imitation. Same interface, similar names, familiar layouts. Enough to fool you at a quick glance.

That quick glance is exactly what this verification step now addresses.

And yes, your ArihantPlus app is verified too. You'll find the badge on our app on the Play

So, what are the benefits of trading with a SEBI-verified broker like ArihantPlus?

• Right platform: The app is linked to a SEBI registered broker, so your money actually goes into the market and not into a fake system.
• Regulated ecosystem: SEBI requires regular disclosures, audits, and adherence to investor protection norms.
• Robust infrastructure: These brokers operate with established trading systems, risk management frameworks, and secure processes to handle client funds and data.
• Real market execution: Trades are routed through actual exchange infrastructure, so prices, orders, and settlements are legitimate and not simulated.
• Accountability: Client funds move only through verified and mapped bank accounts and validated UPI handles, not random or unverified channels. 

The market has always had risks. But losing money to a fake app, even before you've even made a single trade, is a risk that's entirely avoidable now.

The new Verified Badge by SEBI changes the rules of the game at the right place - the starting point. One quick check before you download is all it takes to keep your hard-earned money safe.

At ArihantPlus, your security isn't an afterthought; it's built into everything we do. From being a SEBI-registered broker to now carrying the Verified Badge on the Play Store, we want every step of your investing journey to feel safe, transparent, and trustworthy. Not just the trades you make, but the app you choose to make them on.

So the next time you, or someone you know, want to trade in stocks or invest in mutual funds, remember: the verified badge isn't just a label. It's your first line of defense. So look out for the badge before you open your account or trade.

Download the verified ArihantPlus app. Invest with confidence.