By CS Mohapatra and Depannita Ghosh

A 23-year-old management student in Delhi recently lost her savings to a social media group that promised “sure-shot stock tips” with guaranteed daily returns. A few weeks earlier, a young IT professional followed the advice of a popular finfluencer, only to find himself holding near-worthless penny stocks. Neither lacked access to financial services—they lacked the ability to differentiate genuine opportunity from digital deception.

As World Investor Week 2025 unfolds between October 6 and 12, it is worth reflecting on the risks and opportunities faced by India’s growing class of young investors. Today, conversations about money bloom not at bank counters or traders’ offices but on smartphones, reels, and trading apps. The rapid digitalisation of financial services has made investing and saving far more accessible than before, creating a new class of first-time investors, many of them young and ambitious. Yet, with these opportunities has come a surge of scams, misinformation, and misplaced trust, threatening to erode the confidence that underpins financial inclusion.

The rise of financial influencers or “finfluencers” is perhaps the most visible sign of this new era. They package complex financial concepts into 60-second videos, appealing to millions. While some offer credible insights, others indulge in biased promotion disguised as prudent advice, often pushing........

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