Two Months In, My Lesson: If They Ask for Extra Fees, Walk Away

I’ve only been trading for two months, but I’ve learned quickly that real investing doesn’t come with hidden fees, secretive calls, or rushed transactions. This story about the Indian investors losing millions in fake SEBI-registered schemes is a huge eye-opener for me. What struck me the most was how these scammers used WhatsApp to create a sense of urgency and make victims believe they were in a “trustworthy” space. The promise of quick profits and then suddenly demanding additional service fees to release funds — that's a huge red flag. From what I’ve been studying, any platform or broker that pressures you to make quick decisions, transfers, or adds unexpected fees is probably not legitimate. In my own trading journey, I’ve learned to avoid platforms that don’t clearly state their costs, have obscure withdrawal procedures, or show suspicious growth. Always verify if they’re regulated, check for real performance reports, and avoid any setup that demands secretive transactions or additional payments.