SEBI chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey on Monday launched Project Jagrook, a nationwide drive to protect investors from fraud and misinformation.

Speaking at Panjab University, Pandey warned investors against anonymous tips, finfluencers and exaggerated return claims. “Invest because you understand,” he said, adding that investor education was now market infrastructure.

Under the project, stock brokers must display SEBI’s investor-awareness messages on their websites from October 5. From November 1, the messages become mandatory on landing pages, and apps must rotate them with risk disclosures on alternate days.

Pandey said India has about 15 crore investors and market capitalisation has quadrupled to Rs 472 lakh crore in a decade. A SEBI survey found 63 percent of households knew of a market product, but only 9.5 percent actually invested.

The drive coincides with World Investor Week, running from October 5 to 11. SEBI has also tied up with exchanges and depositories for investor camps across states. Pandey stressed that investors should verify claims before acting on tips. The regulator has been cracking down on unregistered investment advisors and finfluencers who promise guaranteed returns.