One of the traders, Arjun (name changed), who trusted an SEBI-registered entity, lost ₹64,500 to 3i Research.
Why?
Because of the wrong hope given to him: guaranteed returns.
Not limited to this, the firm gave him personalised trade calls and built pressure to keep adding money.
However, we helped him recover ₹50,000.
Below is the screenshot of the first installment of ₹25,000, which was received initially, followed by the remaining amount later.
This blog covers exactly what happened, which violations we found, and the step-by-step process that got his money back.
You Trusted a “SEBI-Registered” Name & Then Faced Huge Loss
It started with a phone call. Confident, polished, and professional-sounding.
A representative from 3i Research contacted Arjun and presented himself as a market expert. He spoke confidently. Moreover, he claimed to have a proven strategy backed by research and experience.
Soon after, WhatsApp messages started arriving regularly. The representative shared multiple screenshots showing alleged profits earned by other clients.
As a result, Arjun began to trust the service. The messages carried a simple promise: “See what our clients are making.”
Our client had no prior experience with the markets. But those profit screenshots looked real. The voice on the phone sounded trustworthy. So Arjun listened.
He was told to act fast.
“Kal se trading shuru karte hain. Ek baar fund karo, baaki hum sambhal lenge.”
And Arjun did. He funded his account. He followed every call.
Then the losses began.
The Losses Grew, But So Did the Recovery Promises
The trade calls kept coming. Buy this. Sell that. Hold on. Average here.
Arjun’s capital started shrinking. He raised concerns. He asked what was going wrong.
The response was always smooth:
“Losses will be recovered. Don’t worry, it will happen.”
“Market thoda slow hai. But hum recover karwa denge.”
Those words, “main recover karwa dunga”, kept Arjun hooked. He held on. He trusted the process.
And then came the next blow.
The representative asked Arjun directly how much he had. When he said his funds were limited, the pressure did not stop. More money, they told him, meant a faster recovery.
So Arjun paid more. First, a ₹1,50,000 annual fee, broken into smaller installments when he said he couldn’t pay all at once.
Roughly ₹30,400 was collected this way. Then, when losses grew even larger, Arjun was handed over to a so-called “senior manager” who would “personally handle” his recovery.
That manager’s trades also resulted in losses. And while all of this unfolded, ₹5,000 more in fees was quietly extracted.
By the time Arjun came to us, he had lost over ₹64,500. He felt foolish, desperate, and completely stuck.
Here’s What Actually Happened
When Arjun sat with us and shared everything, one thing became clear immediately: this wasn’t just unfortunate trading. These were textbook regulatory violations.
Here’s what we found, mapped precisely to SEBI regulations:
- Personalized Trading Advice: SEBI (Research Analysts) Regulations, 2014 prohibit RAs from giving individualized buy/sell calls. Did 3i Research give personalised investment advice to Arjun? Yes, they gave him direct, specific trade recommendations tied to his own account and capital, which is a clear breach.
- Assured Return Promises: “Losses will be recovered” and “don’t worry, it will happen” are explicitly banned under SEBI rules. These assurances were repeated to retain Arjun even as losses mounted.
- Fund Pressure / Capital Inducement: Despite Arjun clearly stating limited funds, the representative assessed his financial capacity and pushed for more, a manipulative and prohibited practice.
- Fee Collection Under False Pretenses: A ₹1,50,000 annual fee broken into smaller installments after the client’s resistance, a calculated psychological entrapment.
- Escalation to a Second Representative: When losses grew, Arjun was handed to a “manager” whose trades also failed, while additional fees of ~₹5,000 were simultaneously extracted.
Each of these was a measurable, documentable regulatory violation. And once we saw the full picture, recovering money from 3i Research stopped feeling impossible.
Here’s Exactly How We Got ₹50,000 Back
When Arjun came to us, he had already tried reaching out on his own. No response. No resolution. Just silence.
That’s where our work began.
Step 1: Case Assessment and Evidence Mapping
We reviewed every piece of evidence Arjun had saved.
Payment receipts. Call records. WhatsApp chat screenshots. Trade history. Fee payment records. Everything.
We didn’t just read through them. We mapped each piece to a specific SEBI regulation violation. Nothing stayed vague. Every claim had a document behind it.
Without this foundation, a complaint is just noise. With it, it becomes a case that demands a response.
Step 2: Drafting and Filing the Formal Complaint
We drafted a detailed, regulation-citing complaint and filed it directly with 3i Research’s compliance officer and senior management.
The complaint named each violation clearly: personalized advice, assured return promises, fund pressure, and fee collection under false pretenses, all backed by specific references to SEBI (Research Analysts) Regulations, 2014.
No emotional language. No vague accusations. Just documented facts and clearly cited regulatory breaches.
Step 3: Filing a Complaint in SCORES
3i Research did not provide a satisfactory resolution internally.
So we escalated immediately.
We filed a formal complaint against sebi registered research analyst on the SEBI SCORES portal, India’s official investor grievance platform, naming the company alongside the official 3i Research SEBI registration number INH000012689.
Every document, every violation, every supporting piece of evidence was submitted with a clear, point-by-point breakdown.
SEBI SCORES is where most cases like Arjun’s actually move forward, and most investors never use it.
Step 4: The Final Recovery
Through the SEBI intervention process, Arjun’s case was resolved.
Here’s how the numbers looked:
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Total Capital Lost | ₹64,500+ |
| Total Amount Recovered | ₹50,000 |
| Recovery Percentage | 77% |
Was it the full amount? No.
But for someone who had been told recovery was impossible, getting ₹50,000 back was everything.
The payment receipt is right there at the top of this page. Real money. Verified and documented. That’s what the right process, at the right time, with the right evidence, can achieve.
Did Any of This Happen to You, too? Watch Out for These Red Flags
The tactics used in Arjun’s case are not unique to 3i Research. Research Analysts and Investment Advisors who operate this way almost always follow the same playbook.
If any of these sound familiar, pay close attention:
- You received an unsolicited call from a “SEBI-registered” RA promising exclusive, high-profit tips.
- You were shown WhatsApp screenshots of other clients’ profits to build trust before you invested.
- You received specific, personalized trade calls, exact scrips, lot sizes, quantities, without asking for them.
- You felt pressured to fund quickly, “Kal se trading shuru karte hain.”
- You heard “Main recover karwa dunga” after losses mounted; this is a retention tactic, not a plan.
- You were pushed to pay more fees even while losing money.
- You were handed off to a “senior manager” when your losses grew, without any improvement in results.
- You got vague or evasive answers when you asked for fee breakdowns or trade rationale.
First-time investors carry the highest risk. They have no benchmark for what “normal” looks like. They trust confidence and authority naturally.
That trust is precisely what gets exploited.
Now you know what it looks like. And awareness is your first real line of defence.
Need Help?
If you’ve dealt with 3i Research, or any Research Analyst or Investment Advisor using similar tactics, know this clearly:
Recovery is not guaranteed. But it is absolutely possible with the right guidance, at the right time, with the right documentation.
Delay seriously weakens your case.
So here’s what to do right now:
- Save everything immediately: WhatsApp chats, call recordings, fee receipts, trade logs, all of it. Right now, before anything disappears.
- File a formal complaint with the entity’s compliance officer, in writing, citing specific violations.
- Escalate to SEBI SCORES if you receive no satisfactory resolution.
- Consider arbitration through the appropriate forum if SCORES doesn’t resolve the issue.
- Get proper guidance from someone who understands SEBI regulations, complaint drafting, and the full process from filing to resolution.
That fifth step made the entire difference for Arjun.
We help investors navigate cases involving brokers, Research Analysts (RAs), and Investment Advisors (IAs). Our work covers case assessment, evidence documentation, complaint drafting, SEBI SCORES filing, and arbitration support.
If you’re trying to recover money from 3i Research, or if a similar experience happened with any other registered entity, reach out to us.
We’ll tell you honestly what’s possible and what isn’t.
₹64,500 Lost. ₹50,000 Recovered. It is Possible
3i Research had an SEBI registration number. Arjun trusted it, but the trust was used against him.
Personalised trade calls, assured returns promises, fee pressure: each one a documented violation. Each one was something he had every right to fight.
He recovered ₹50,000, not everything but enough to prove that the process works when the evidence is there.
If your story sounds like Arjun’s, don’t wait. Reach out to us today.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational and awareness purposes only. It does not constitute legal or financial advice. Recovery outcomes depend on individual case details, evidence quality, and applicable regulations. Past recovery outcomes do not guarantee future results.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I recover money lost through 3i Research?
Yes, as Arjun’s case shows, recovery depends on your evidence and the specific violation involved. It is not guaranteed, but it is possible. The earlier you act, the stronger your position.
2. What evidence should I collect before filing a complaint?
Save WhatsApp chats, call recordings, payment receipts, trade statements, emails, and screenshots. Strong documentation significantly improves the chances of a successful complaint.
3. Can a SEBI-registered Research Analyst give personalised trading calls?
No. Research Analysts are generally not allowed to provide client-specific buy or sell recommendations. Personalized advice may violate SEBI regulations.
4. What should I do if the company ignores my complaint?
You should first file a written complaint with the entity’s compliance officer. If the response is unsatisfactory, you can escalate the matter through the SEBI SCORES portal.
5. How long does the recovery process usually take?
Arjun’s case resolved in stages: the first ₹25,000 came through within a few months of filing, and the remainder followed.
So, in general, direct complaints take 15 to 30 days for a response; SEBI SCORES escalations see movement in 30 to 45 days, and full resolution through SCORES or arbitration can take 3- 6 months.
