ATS Share Brokers Unauthorised Trading: What the Real Numbers Show

ATS Share Brokers unauthorised trading complaints have gone from zero in 2021-22 to 17 out of 26 complaints in 2025-26, nearly two out of every three complaints filed against the broker.

That is not a small shift. It is a pattern worth understanding before you assume a trade in your account was simply a mistake.

This blog breaks down the exact complaint data year by year, what actually counts as unauthorised trading under SEBI’s rules, and what to do if you find yourself in the same situation.

What Is ATS Share Brokers Unauthorised Trading?

Unauthorised trading means a broker or dealer places a trade in your account without your permission, or without a record they can produce if you dispute it later.

Every legitimate order should trace back to you directly, or to an instruction you clearly approved.

When a trade shows up that you did not place and cannot recall approving, that gap is exactly what unauthorised trading complaints are built around.

ATS Share Brokers Unauthorised Trading Complaints

Complaint data filed against the broker over the last five years tells a clear story, and it is worth seeing the actual numbers rather than a general impression.

The early years show almost no complaints of any kind, and none involving unauthorised trades.

That changes sharply from 2023-24 onward. By 2025-26, nearly two out of every three complaints filed against the broker involved a trade the investor says they never authorised.

This does not automatically mean every one of these complaints was confirmed as a violation. It does mean the pattern has become too consistent to treat as a one-off.

For the full context on how this fits into the broader picture at ATS, our page on ATS Broking complaints covers the related brokerage churning case that shaped these numbers.

When Can Action Be Taken Against ATS Share Brokers?

Not every disputed trade automatically qualifies as unauthorised. But certain gaps put the responsibility clearly back on the broker.

Here is when you actually have grounds to escalate.

• No clear authorisation on record. If the broker cannot produce a call recording, written instruction, or digital order log for the disputed trade, the trade can be legitimately questioned.
• Missing trading instruction records. Brokers are required to maintain these records for a minimum period. If they cannot produce them when asked, that itself becomes a regulatory concern.
• No justification beyond the trade itself. If the broker cannot explain the trade through fund transfers, written acknowledgements, or any other evidence, the dispute stays open in your favour.
• Unusually high trading frequency. If your account shows a pattern that looks built to generate brokerage rather than serve your actual goals, that pattern alone can draw regulatory attention.

Many of the technical issues investors report alongside unauthorised trades trace back to the broker’s own trading app.

Our page on Matrix app not working covers the specific app failures ATS users have flagged separately from this data.

Found a trade in your ATS Share Brokers account you never approved?

Our team will review your contract notes and trade logs, identify the exact authorisation gap, and help you build a complaint around evidence that holds up at every stage.

Register with us for a free consultation.

How Do You Report ATS Share Brokers Unauthorised Trading?

Start by reviewing your own trade records. Pull your contract notes, trade history, and ledger statements for the specific period in question.

Contact the broker directly before escalating anywhere else. Ask specifically for trade logs, call recordings, and confirmation of exactly how the disputed order was placed.

• SEBI SCORES: If that response does not resolve things, file through the SEBI SCORES complaint portal, naming the specific trades and the evidence gap you found.
• NSE Complaint: Should the broker still not act, an NSE complaint lets the exchange step in and attempt a direct resolution on your behalf.
• SMART ODR Portal: If your dispute moves to online conciliation instead, track and respond to it through the SMART ODR portal.
• Exchange Arbitration: If the dispute is still unresolved after all of this, arbitration in stock exchange is the final step, where an independent tribunal reviews the evidence from both sides.

If you want to know the full process end to end, check our guide on complaint against broker to SEBI.

Conclusion

The data on ATS Share Brokers unauthorised trading complaints has moved in one direction for three straight years, and it is not a direction that favours the broker’s own explanation of isolated incidents.

If a trade shows up in your account that you cannot account for, the burden of proof sits with the broker, not you, but only if you document the gap and escalate it properly.

Check your contract notes regularly, and do not wait months to question something that looks off from day one.

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Report. Recover. Stay Fraud Free.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. How common are unauthorised trading complaints against ATS Share Brokers?

They have grown from 0% of total complaints in 2021-22 to 65.4% in 2025-26, now making up nearly two out of every three complaints filed against the broker.

2. What counts as an unauthorised trade?

Any trade executed in your account without your clear permission, or without a record the broker can produce to prove that permission existed.

3. What proof should a broker have before placing a trade on my behalf?

Verifiable, timestamped proof such as a recorded call, written instruction, or digital order log, not a verbal understanding alone.

4. How long do I have to dispute an unauthorised trade?

Act as soon as you notice it. Evidence such as call recordings and order logs becomes harder to retrieve the longer you wait.

5. Where should I file a complaint about ATS Share Brokers unauthorised trading first?

Start with a written complaint to the broker's compliance officer, then escalate to SEBI SCORES if the response does not resolve the issue.