The National Stock Exchange (NSE) on February 24, 2026, has cautioned investors about fraudsters impersonating officials of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and circulating forged communications demanding payment of Securities Transaction Tax (STT) for the release of funds under the Finance Act, 2004. These fake notices misuse SEBI’s letterhead, logo, and seal to appear genuine.
The NSE has clarified that SEBI and stock exchanges do not issue letters seeking direct tax payments, including STT, for the release of funds. Investors are advised to verify the authenticity of any such communication through official SEBI and NSE websites, avoid sharing personal or financial details, refrain from making payments based on suspicious documents, and immediately report any fraudulent communication through the official grievance redressal mechanisms.
