Money comes hard in Kashmir. 

A shopkeeper closes his shutters and counts what remains after rent and supplier payments. A labourer hands over a week’s wages after days of backbreaking work. A government clerk divides his salary between ageing parents, family obligations and an uncertain future. 

That money represents years of slog, struggle and sacrifice. Someone who understands its emotional value can persuade a family to part with a lifetime of savings in a matter of minutes.

Financial markets, however, reward facts, risk assessment, timing and due diligence rather than the effort it took to earn the money. 

Many families in Kashmir make investment decisions with the same emotions that shaped their savings, allowing trust and hope to outweigh scrutiny. 

That instinct has cost households far more than many market downturns ever have.

Look closely at how the con actually plays out. 

A seller promises a fixed, guaranteed return. He says the money will double within months. He asserts everyone else has already jumped in, so hesitation means losing out. He calls it a golden chance meant only for a lucky........

© Kashmir Observer