Spotting scams: Motilal Oswal’s takes a stand with #YehConHai

Motilal Oswal Group has long been a target for scammers looking to exploit its reputation. Through proactive measures and the deployment of two specialised agencies working tirelessly to combat fraudulent activities, the financial services brand has successfully taken down more than 15,000 fake posts, videos, and apps. However, the menace persists.

To better equip investors in identifying and neutralising scams, Motilal Oswal Financial Services has unveiled the #YehConHai (Who is the con) campaign. This initiative aims to expose scam tactics and empower individuals on ways to identify scammers and protect their financial well-being.

The #YehConHai campaign includes three films that depict real-life scenarios where scammers impersonate Motilal Oswal employees including Raamdeo Agrawal, the group chairman. These dramatised narratives bring to light common fraud tactics and reinforce the importance of vigilance.

Sandeep Walunj, group chief marketing officer at Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd (MOFSL), shared that while the company has been doing substantial work in taking down fake/fraud posts, it thought potential victims must also be opted in its efforts. “Visuals work helps investors comprehend the modus-operandi of scammers and prepares them to deal with such attempts much better. A sting operation was the creative device that we came up with internally for this purpose,” he added.

In 2024 alone, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reported bank frauds amounting to over INR 139.3 billion. This emphasises the critical need for investor vigilance and cautious decision-making.

Scammers often exploit psychological manipulation to deceive their victims, targeting even seasoned investors. Motilal Oswal’s #YehConHai campaign addresses this pressing issue with impactful educational interventions. One of the ad films shows MOFSL’s MD and CEO, Ajay Menon, dissecting every sentence that a scamster is reading from a script, cautioning why people should beware of quick-return promises.

Through extensive research, the campaign has identified key red flags that investors should be wary of when approached by potential fraudsters. These include the pressure to act quickly or make rushed decisions, promises of guaranteed returns, assurances of instant or extraordinarily fast profits and requests to transfer money to a separate, non-official account.

Campaign’s take: Motilal Oswal Financial Services has flipped the script on financial fraudsters with its #YehConHai campaign—a sharp, cinematic effort to combat a rising tide of scams. Highlighting scammer tactics through three gripping ad films, the campaign dramatises real-life con scenarios, including fraudsters impersonating the company’s leadership. These “sting-like” narratives expose the psychological manipulations scammers deploy, from high-pressure sales pitches to promises of guaranteed returns.

The campaign goes beyond awareness. Backed by dedicated verification channels, it empowers investors to verify claims and spot red flags. A standout ad features MD Ajay Menon dissecting a conman's scripted lies—a compelling watch for both novice and seasoned investors.

While dismantling over 15,000 fraudulent posts and apps, the campaign takes a decisive step to protect its reputation and customers. Can education-driven campaigns like #YehConHai halt scammers? Perhaps not entirely, but they arm the public with the tools to stay a step ahead. For Motilal Oswal, it’s a masterstroke in reputation management and investor security.