The Reserve Bank of India has today cautioned members of public about unauthorised companies which collect money from public stating that they have been authorised by the Reserve Bank to do so. The Reserve Bank stated that it has published on its website (http://rbi.org.in/scripts/BS_NBFCList.aspx) a list of non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) which are permitted to accept deposits. No NBFC outside of this list can accept deposits from public. Doing so is clearly fraudulent and has to be investigated by the law enforcement agencies in the normal course.

The Reserve Bank has also been advertising from time to time cautioning the public about this.

The Reserve Bank has further stated that all complaints relating to unauthorised acceptance of monies and running of money circulation schemes should be referred to the Economic Offences Wing of the concerned State Governments.

It was reported that some individuals/firms/unincorporated association of individuals (unincorporated bodies)/ marketing companies and companies engaged in money circulation schemes have been collecting monies from the public by making tall promises of high returns, either through issue of advertisements or by sale of products.  Some of them even claim that they have the Reserve Bank's approval for their operations. Some of these entities have reportedly vanished without repaying the monies collected by them.

Money circulation schemes are banned under the Prize Chit and Money Circulation Schemes (Banning) Act 1978 and the respective State Governments have the power to take action against the persons involved in such schemes.

Alpana Killawala
Chief General Manager

Press Release : 2010-2011/746

Unauthorized deposit taking: only authorised NBFCs on the official list may accept deposits; unlawful collectors face enforcement action. Only NBFCs listed on the published official list are authorised to accept deposits; entities outside that list claiming RBI approval or collecting monies are acting unlawfully and should be reported to law enforcement. Complaints about unauthorised acceptance of monies and money circulation schemes should be referred to the Economic Offences Wing of the concerned State Government; money circulation schemes are prohibited and subject to State enforcement.