Tip of the day + trends

Passive income ideas today: Monday, November 2, 2026

I bonds jump to 5.51%, BSE flags a deepfake stock-tip video, and Substack adds new paywall tools

What's new in passive income today? 📈

1. 01
   2 Nov, 08:10 IST

   BSE warns a deepfake video of its CEO is pushing fake stock tips

   Source: BSE India

   BSE says a deepfake video falsely showing its MD and CEO Sundararaman Ramamurthy is circulating on social media, promising extraordinary profits and urging viewers to join a WhatsApp channel. BSE says neither he nor any BSE official gives stock tips or runs WhatsApp or Telegram groups.

   💬 Why it mattersIf a famous face promises you riches on WhatsApp, it may not be them at all; stick to official channels and registered advisers.
2. 02
   2 Nov, 08:10 IST

   FCA flags clone firm posing as Octopus Investments

   Source: IFSA

   The UK Financial Conduct Authority warned that client.octopus-firm.com is an unauthorised clone using details copied from FCA-authorised Octopus Investments. People dealing with a clone would not be covered by the Financial Ombudsman Service or the compensation scheme, the regulator said.

   💬 Why it mattersClones look real on purpose, so always reach a firm through the regulator's register, never through a link or number someone sends you.
3. 03
   2 Nov, 08:10 IST

   PNB raises short-term FD rates by up to 0.85 points from November 1

   Source: RateScan.in

   Punjab National Bank's general rate for 91 to 154 days (below Rs 3 crore) moved from 4.90% to 5.75%, effective 1 November 2026, according to RateScan's tracker of the bank's official rate page. Several other tenures and senior-citizen rates rose by the same 0.85 points.

   💬 Why it mattersIf you park cash for a few months in India, short-term FD rates are worth rechecking before you renew. Not financial advice.
4. Advertise here · reach people building smarter income →
5. 04
   2 Nov, 01:44 IST

   California law lets kids of family vloggers demand footage removal

   Source: Tubefilter

   Tubefilter reports: California Senate Bill 1247 gives adults who were featured as minors in social media content by parents, legal guardians or family members the right to demand that the content be removed once they turn 18.

   💬 Why it mattersFamily vloggers earning from content featuring their children could be required to take some of it down later, which affects the long-term value of that video library.
6. 05
   1 Nov, 13:29 IST

   Sebi chief urges investors to look past quick-return promises

   Source: Outlook Money

   Speaking in Kolkata on October 31, Sebi Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey warned against misleading social media advice and digital frauds, and pointed to tools like validated UPI handles and Sebi Check for verifying payment details. Outlook Money cites an Indian Express report of a Pune engineer who allegedly lost Rs 2.17 crore in a fake share-trading scheme.

   💬 Why it mattersBefore paying any broker or adviser in India, you can verify their UPI handle with Sebi's own tools. Not financial advice.
7. 06
   30 Oct, 22:33 IST

   Substack adds metered paywalls, freewalls and annual-upgrade discounts

   Source: Substack

   Substack says writers can now let free subscribers read a set number of paid posts each month, ask for an email before a full post (freewalls), and offer discounts to move monthly subscribers to annual plans. It also launched curated lists and chat channels.

   💬 Why it mattersNewsletter writers get new levers to turn free readers into paying ones, without leaving the platform.
8. Advertise here · reach people building smarter income →
9. 07
   30 Oct, 20:06 IST

   US I bonds pay 5.51% for purchases through April 2027

   Source: CNBC

   Newly purchased Series I bonds pay 5.51% annual interest from Nov. 1 through April 30, up from 4.26% for purchases through Oct. 31, the US Treasury said. The fixed portion rises to 1.40%, the highest since 2006, per CNBC.

   💬 Why it mattersFor US savers, the 1.40% fixed part stays with the bond for life, while the inflation part resets every six months. Not financial advice. More on Markets →

   Market news · Not financial advice

10. 08
    29 Oct, 17:24 IST

    Etsy's active buyers rise for the first time in two years

    Source: Fortune

    Etsy said quarterly active buyers grew for the first time in two years and active sellers grew the most since 2024, as CEO Kruti Patel Goyal cracks down on AI-generated listings. Revenue rose 11% to $692.5 million, Fortune reports.

    💬 Why it mattersFor makers selling handmade or original goods, Etsy is pushing back on the AI-made listings sellers say undercut them. More on Digital products →