Originally Syndicated on September 19, 2023 @ 4:50 am
Varun Malhotra, the self-proclaimed finance guru, has carved a niche for himself in the world of personal finance education. He targets hardworking individuals with dreams of prosperity, promising financial freedom and the allure of becoming a billionaire. However, beneath the glossy marketing and persuasive rhetoric, we find a disconcerting truth: Varun Malhotra scams people.
A concerned victim’s plea for help in reclaiming a substantial sum of ₹XXXX lost to Varun’s deceptive schemes gave birth to this expose. After hearing the distressing story, we conducted a thorough investigation to discover the intricate web of deceit that Varun had woven.
Table of Contents
We comprehensively examined the scams and fraudulent activities associated with Varun Malhotra in this report. It will shed light on the methods he employs to deceive unsuspecting individuals seeking financial empowerment. Brace yourself as we uncover the truth behind Varun Malhotra’s dubious practices and expose the façade of financial expertise he presents to the world.
What is Varun Malhotra’s background and experience in finance?
Varun Malhotra boasts a substantial background and extensive experience in the world of finance, positioning himself as a self-proclaimed authority in investment matters. With an impressive 18-year tenure in the field, Varun holds a directorship at EIFS Pvt. Ltd., an esteemed investment consultancy firm headquartered in Delhi. His academic credentials include an MBA in finance earned at Washington University in St. Louis, USA, alongside studies at the prestigious IIM-Ahmedabad. Notably, Varun Malhotra has earned the distinction of completing all three levels of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) programme, a testament to his comprehensive grasp of financial intricacies.
Varun actively disseminates his financial wisdom through multiple platforms. His website, EIFS-Varun Malhotra, offers courses on investment strategies, complemented by a YouTube channel where he imparts financial literacy through videos. On his Twitter account, he shares insights on diverse topics, including financial literacy and the Indian Patent Office.
Varun’s self-presented background, however, causes scepticism. He claims his finance journey began at the age of 13 with a book gift from his father, an all-too-common narrative among self-proclaimed gurus. By the age of 17, he had made his first investment, which propelled him into a teaching career. This unconventional path, coupled with limited information about his professional experiences, leads to questions about his credibility.
While Varun Malhotra may tout his generosity in teaching others, it’s crucial to scrutinise the disclaimers that accompany such teachings: the responsibility for success lies with the students, and the key to wealth comes at a price, often a hefty one. His story, reminiscent of many in the guru industry, leaves room for scepticism, underscoring the need for caution when considering his financial advice.
Reviews of Varun Malhotra’s financial literacy courses
Customer reception for Varun Malhotra‘s financial literacy courses has been mixed. Although some found the course content valuable, others were unhappy with the backend team’s support. More disturbingly, others have accused him of arranging fraud, taking their money while promising future wealth.
These recent Varun Malhotra reviews illuminate different perspectives. These evaluations highlight the irreverence of this self-proclaimed “finance expert,” dividing perspectives. These opposing views stress the importance of due diligence in financial education, so potential customers should carefully assess Varun’s courses.
Is Varun Malhotra spreading false information?
Varun Malhotra faces allegations of disseminating inaccurate information regarding the stock market, casting doubt on his credibility as an alleged expert. Notably, the fact that he has no personal investment in the stock market and does not own any stocks, fuels these accusations. Moreover, financial experts have issued warnings against investing in his courses, adding to the scepticism surrounding his claims.
In a recent video titled “Earn 1.5 crore with NPS,” Varun embarks on a questionable premise, assuming that both Nifty and NPS will yield 15% returns. It is essential to note that achieving a consistent 15% return on investment is a formidable challenge for even seasoned active fund managers, considering the expenses incurred in managing investments. It is perplexing that an individual like Varun Malhotra, who frequents national platforms such as DD National and various other forums, continues to disseminate information that many deem misleading and factually incorrect.
These allegations raise valid concerns about Varun Malhotra‘s expertise and the reliability of his financial advice, prompting potential investors to exercise caution and conduct thorough research before engaging with his courses or investment strategies.
Varun claims expertise but owns no stocks
Varun professes financial expertise but has no real stock holdings. It’s important to use caution when encountering Quora endorsements of Varun Malhotra because many of them come from fake profiles created by the same marketing company Varun used to create a false online persona. Stay vigilant and discerning in your online interactions and assessments of Varun’s credibility.
What is the EIFS Refund Policy?
The EIFS refund policy is a matter of concern for potential students. Unlike more reputable sources like Udemy, which offer a generous 30-day refund window, EIFS provides a mere 7-day refund period. This short timeframe hardly allows students adequate time to thoroughly assess the course’s value.
The brevity of this refund period raises questions about Varun’s intentions. It appears designed to dissuade dissatisfied customers from seeking refunds, reflecting a lack of genuine concern for their satisfaction. In such a scenario, customers find themselves in a powerless position, left with little recourse other than voicing their grievances online.
Varun’s approach seems geared towards stifling complaints, creating a system that we will delve into further in this review. The EIFS refund policy, with its limited timeframe, does little to instil confidence in the course’s quality or the commitment to customer satisfaction, leaving prospective students in a precarious position.
How Does Varun Use Paid PR to Manipulate People?
Varun Malhotra uses sponsored PR to trick people into buying his courses. Popular networks, including ZED Business, Dainik Bhaskar, and TED1, have endorsed him.
We must acknowledge that Varun lacks the credentials to receive legitimate news coverage. He uses financial transactions to spread good stories about him online.
This strategy is based on building visibility and trust. Varun Malhotra knows he needs a ubiquitous story to attract more students. Paid PR agencies help here. The agencies work with PR firms to write and publish articles on Varun and his work in renowned media.
The benefits of this technique are many. Varun is introduced to a wider audience through reputable publications, raising brand awareness. His stories in publications and on significant platforms may pique readers’ interest in his products.
Second, it improves the public’s image. An article in Forbes praising a startup you’ve never heard of leaves a good impression. Companies realize that first impressions matter in marketing, especially during product launches. Varun Malhotra happily uses paid PR on his website, a popular business technique. The issue is what someone promotes through paid PR, not the practice itself. Varun uses ZED Business and TED to promote his “get rich quick” scams. Unfortunately, only he benefits from his lessons.
Let’s examine Malhotra’s website articles to demonstrate his PR-backed facade’s hollowness.
ZEE Business
The article featured on Zee Business regarding Varun Malhotra appears to serve as a promotional piece for his courses and seminars. Upon careful examination, it becomes apparent that the content primarily discusses rudimentary financial concepts, suggesting the involvement of a budget-conscious content writer commonly associated with PR firms in India.
TED
This is quite deceiving! Varun Malhotra has only given “TEDx” talks, not “TED” talks. Financial contributions and networking with TEDx members are often required to speak. TEDx stages don’t have a strict selection process like TED Talks.
Varun Malhotra‘s website’s use of TED Corporation LLC’s logo may violate TED’s logo usage restrictions. After this exposé, Varun may change the logo to avoid legal issues.
This revelation emphasizes the need for accurate and honest information transmission and caution when assessing public officials’ claims.
The Economics Times
When we noticed the Economic Times logo on Varun’s website, we were surprised because ET is often more cautious and discourages the promotion of con artists. All we could locate during my search for articles about Varun Malhotra published by The Economic Times was a broken Facebook post that led to the ET home page.
Here is what we believe likely transpired: The PR company managed to get their piece published in The Economic Times, but the ET editor eventually discovered the dishonest post and took it down.
Dainik Bhaskar
Our search for Varun Malhotra in Dainik Bhaskar failed. Dainik Bhaskar may have duplicated articles from the Economic Times (ET) or erased Varun-related posts. This casts doubt on Varun’s homepage assertions.
Varun Malhotra uses several methods to get people to part with their money. Unfortunately, many people are unaware that even renowned Indian magazines may promote problematic individuals for financial advantage. People with prominent media coverage are assumed to be trustworthy. This belief allows Varun Malhotra and Rohini Mundra to exploit naive victims.
People should be cautious and conduct significant investigations before accepting financial advice, especially from dubious sources. Before making financial commitments, check people’s credibility and statements, as media publicity can put you at risk.
Fake Varun Malhotra reviews
In addition to articles featured on media websites, Varun has employed questionable tactics, including engaging blackhat marketers, to orchestrate deceptive practices online. One glaring example is the manipulation of a Quora thread that surfaces when searching for his name on Google.
Surprisingly, Varun Malhotra‘s marketing team wrote the most well-liked response on the Quora thread about the suitability of his FLIP program for novice stock market investors. At first glance, the author, “Ankita Kumar,” might appear to be a satisfied customer. Yet, upon closer examination of her profile, it becomes evident that this account exhibits zero activity and is established to mislead and bolster Varun Malhotra‘s fraudulent image.
The misconduct doesn’t stop here; Varun’s team has also resorted to creating fabricated Trustpilot profiles to post counterfeit reviews. A quick Google search for “Varun Malhotra reviews” showcases his Trustpilot listing with an impressive 4.8/5 rating, which, on the surface, seems commendable. However, delving into the reviews exposes a suspicious pattern—uniform tones and single-review accounts. Authentic users typically contribute multiple reviews on platforms like Trustpilot and Reviews.io, rendering the presence of solitary reviews a telltale sign of deceit.
This disturbing revelation underscores the prevalence of unethical tactics adopted by fake gurus in India, who often collaborate with unscrupulous marketing firms to disseminate false testimonials on their review platforms.
Experts say not to invest in Varun Malhotra!
Many intelligent individuals on Quora and Reddit have questioned Varun Malhotra‘s assertions. Saikat Ghosh, a PhD scholar and senior researcher at IIT Kharagpur, has called Varun Malhotra “uninformed” and “ignorant” in finance. Even basic financial knowledge agrees with such assessments.
An alert Reddit member discovered Varun’s deception two years ago and posted about it. Unfortunately, Varun’s fake PR pieces and reviews have overtaken legitimate complaints and critical insights. User ‘u/sam_winchester’ methodically reveals Varun’s false assumptions in his video, “Earn 1.5 crore with NPS.”
Varun’s team’s avalanche of sponsored articles obscured these important posts. This strategy hides such discussions, allowing them to seem like legitimate entrepreneurs.
How Varun Steals Money from Customers: Refund Scam
Varun Malhotra‘s supporters and affiliate marketers may say, “He’s simply promoting his product,” yet this section shows his deception. Online sales typically have a refund policy.
Amazon and Flipkart are reliable organizations that repay unhappy customers. Varun Malhotra refuses refunds, yet he stands out. Varun Malhotra. coin’s refund policy states that Varun Malhotra’s products cannot be refunded.
You may question why he refuses refunds. He expects his mediocre course buyers to regret their purchase and request refunds. He silences unhappy clients with this secret policy. When victims disclose this scam, Varun’s marketing staff responds with fake positive reviews and articles.
Users are redirected to a third-party domain ((https://fliponline.dudaone.com/) via Varun’s website. He sells programmes without legal restrictions by changing the third-party domain to prevent detection.
Fake PR Hides Varun Malhotra Complaints
When looking for reviews of EIFS or Varun Malhotra, one will often find mostly sponsored pieces and fake customer recommendations on sites like Facebook and Trustpilot. These carefully planned actions might give the impression that Varun is trustworthy and has great customer service. But if you look more closely, there will be complaints like the ones shown in the pictures.
A Varun scam victim submitted these accusations, but most people ignore them since they are buried by paid articles and misleading affiliate posts.
Final Words
Varun Malhotra operates a deceptive scheme, preying on individuals through sponsored content, concealed disclaimers, and their trust. His target demographic primarily consists of middle-class individuals seeking financial independence, from whom he extracts substantial sums of money. At its core, the Varun Malhotra scam relies on tactics involving criminal manipulation and falsified reviews. It is imperative to exercise caution and distance oneself from both him and his affiliates to safeguard against potential financial harm.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
- Is Varun Malhotra’s financial expertise credible? Varun Malhotra presents himself as a finance expert, but questions linger about the authenticity of his financial knowledge and qualifications.
- What is Varun Malhotra’s refund policy for his courses? Understanding the refund policy for Varun Malhotra’s courses is crucial, as it appears to have limitations that may impact customer satisfaction.
- How does Varun Malhotra use paid PR to manipulate people? Explore the tactics and strategies employed by Varun Malhotra to influence public perception and attract potential customers.
- Are Varun Malhotra’s financial literacy courses worth the investment? Reviews of Varun Malhotra’s courses vary, making it essential to gauge the value and effectiveness of his financial education offerings.
- What are the allegations against Varun Malhotra regarding false information and misleading practices? Delve into the allegations surrounding Varun Malhotra’s dissemination of inaccurate financial information and the potential consequences for those who engage with his courses and advice.