WhatsApp investment group rules and moderation

A guide for admins of financial education groups, investment clubs and market communities who want to operate within securities rules.

securitiesrecommendationsscams
Reading time: 4 min

How it works in practice

Without rules, the group becomes a signals room and attracts scammers. With 9bot, the rules are one command away, platform links are removed and the scam warning is available. In a WhatsApp job openings group, the same rule keeps out fake listings and upfront fees.

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Step by step in the 9bot dashboard

In the side menu, open Automations. The Warning Triggers, Punishment Ladder and Whitelist tabs control when 9bot warns and what happens next. The screenshots below come from the real dashboard, in a test group called "Seu Grupo", with member names and contacts blurred. The numbers on the images follow the order of the clicks.

In investment groups, add promise terms such as guaranteed return to Forbidden Words so every hit counts toward the ladder.

Step 1: Pick the trigger

  1. Open the Warning Triggers tab ("Triggers that Apply Warnings").
  2. Find the trigger, for example Forbidden Words or Forbidden Links, and click Configure.
Warning Triggers tab in 9bot with the Forbidden Words trigger for the group Seu Grupo
Step 1: in Automations, open Warning Triggers and find the Forbidden Words trigger.

Step 2: Set up the trigger

  1. Tick Apply warning for this trigger.
  2. In Warning Count, set how many warnings each hit adds.
  3. If you want, tick Delete detected message and Send moderation alert to admins.
  4. Write one word per line in the word field and click Save.
9bot Forbidden Words window with warning count and word list
Step 2: turn the warning on, set the count, write one word per line and save.

Step 3: Review the Punishment Ladder

  1. Open the Punishment Ladder tab.
  2. By default, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd warnings send a notice and the 4th warning applies Kick (remove from group, can return).
9bot Punishment Ladder tab with four steps, the 4th set to Kick
Step 3: in the Punishment Ladder, the first three steps warn and the 4th removes the member.

Step 4: Adjust a step

  1. Click Configure on the step you want to change.
  2. Choose the Punishment Type and edit the message. The {name} and {reason} variables go into the text.
  3. Click Save.
9bot Configure 4th warning window with punishment type and message
Step 4: in Configure, pick the punishment type, edit the message and save.

Step 5: Exempt who needs it

  1. On the Whitelist tab, click Add first user to free someone from automatic warnings.
9bot Whitelist tab to exempt users from automatic warnings
Step 5: in Whitelist, add the users who should not get automatic warnings.

Want to try it in your group? See the 9bot plans with a 7-day trial.

Direct answer: Recommending specific investments professionally, habitually or for pay is a regulated activity in many countries. In Brazil it is the work of a securities analyst under CVM Resolution 20 and requires accreditation. A WhatsApp group that distributes buy and sell "calls" may fall under this activity even with a "not a recommendation" disclaimer. Educational content that does not point to a specific asset to buy or sell is not analysis. In other countries, check your local securities regulator.

In short:

  • Professional, habitual or paid recommendations need accreditation in Brazil (CVM Resolution 20).
  • A disclaimer does not turn a recommendation into education.
  • Pyramid schemes and fake managers are the main risk for members.

Brazil's CVM Resolution 20: who may recommend

CVM Resolution 20/2021 regulates securities analysts: preparing reports or recommendations on specific securities professionally. The CVM has warned that influencers who recommend assets habitually or for pay may need accreditation.

Phrases such as "not a recommendation" do not avoid the rule if the content, in practice, tells people what to buy or sell.

Educational content versus recommendation

Educational content versus recommendation
ContentStatus
Explaining fixed income, stocks or fundsEducational
Teaching how to read a balance sheet with a historical exampleEducational
Saying "buy asset X today"Specific recommendation
A suggested portfolio with target pricesSpecific recommendation
Paid buy and sell signalsPaid recommendation

Scams that reach investment groups

  • Promises of guaranteed or daily returns.
  • Fake managers who message members privately.
  • "Trading robots" and unregistered platforms.
  • Pyramids with referral bonuses.

See also how to handle member spam.

Rules and moderation

  1. Define the group as educational in the pinned rules.
  2. Prohibit buy or sell calls on specific assets.
  3. Restrict links and remove invitations to platforms.
  4. Tell members never to transfer money to group contacts.

9bot removes links outside the allowlist and answers commands such as .rules and .scams. 7-day trial; with the coupon FIRST9, monthly plans are 50% off for the first 3 months after the trial.

Read also

Stop managing your WhatsApp group manually: set up commands, alerts and automations with 9bot. 50% OFF: Automate my group

FAQ

At which warning does 9bot remove a member?
By default in the Punishment Ladder, the 4th warning applies Kick and the member can return. Each step can be changed in Configure.
Is a WhatsApp investment group legal?
Yes, if it is educational. In Brazil, recommending specific assets professionally, habitually or for pay requires CVM accreditation; other countries have similar rules.
Does a "not a recommendation" disclaimer protect the admin?
Not necessarily. Regulators assess the content, not the disclaimer.
Can I charge for a signals group?
Paid recommendations are a regulated activity and require accreditation in Brazil and many other countries.
How do I spot a scam in an investment group?
Guaranteed return promises, pressure to deposit and private messages are scam signs.
What about outside Brazil?
Check your country's securities regulator; rules vary.
How do I find a trustworthy investment group?
Be wary of guaranteed returns and of anyone who messages members privately. If the group recommends specific assets to buy or sell, check with the securities regulator whether the person is licensed; in Brazil, CVM Resolution 20 requires accreditation. Educational groups that explain concepts without saying what to buy carry less risk.
Do investment groups on Telegram follow the same rules?
Yes. In Brazil, CVM Resolution 20 covers the activity of recommending securities, not the app used. The same care applies on Telegram, WhatsApp or any other network.
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