Description
RTI appeal regarding alleged OANDA investment account scrutiny and money laundering suspicions. SEBI confirmed OANDA Corporation is not registered with SEBI and the letter appears to be forged.
Summary
This is an RTI appeal (No. 6646 of 2025) filed by Harish Chandra regarding queries about an alleged SEBI notification concerning his OANDA investment account (OANDA57581981) being flagged for money laundering scrutiny. The CPIO responded that OANDA Corporation is not registered with SEBI in any capacity, and the letter provided by the appellant appears to be forged. The appellant was advised to report the complaint via sebi@sebi.gov.in or approach SEBI’s registered offices.
Key Points
- RTI application transferred from Department of Financial Services on November 07, 2025
- CPIO responded on November 18, 2025
- Appeal filed on December 01, 2025 (Reg. No. SEBIH/A/P/25/00028)
- Appellant received communication claiming OANDA account flagged for money laundering by SEBI
- OANDA Corporation is NOT registered with SEBI in any capacity
- The letter provided appears to be forged/fraudulent
- Appellant claims inability to withdraw Rs. 92,00,000 from account
- List of SEBI registered intermediaries available on SEBI website
Regulatory Changes
No regulatory changes announced. This is an appellate order on an RTI application.
Compliance Requirements
- Investors should verify registration status of intermediaries on SEBI website before investing
- Complaints regarding unregistered activities can be submitted to sebi@sebi.gov.in
- Complaints can also be filed at any registered SEBI office with relevant details
Important Dates
- November 07, 2025: RTI application transferred to SEBI CPIO
- November 18, 2025: CPIO response issued
- December 01, 2025: Appeal filed
- December 23, 2025: Document publication date
Impact Assessment
Investor Protection Alert: This case highlights the risk of fraudulent communications falsely claiming to be from SEBI. The forged letter attempted to extract money from the investor under the guise of regulatory compliance and money laundering verification. Investors should always verify communications through official SEBI channels and confirm intermediary registration status on the SEBI website. The case has no direct market impact but serves as an important investor awareness matter regarding financial fraud schemes.
Impact Justification
Individual RTI appeal case involving suspected fraudulent communication. High severity for the individual investor affected, but low market-wide impact. Highlights importance of verifying SEBI registration status of intermediaries.