退款激增，“代维”黑灰产抬头

Core Insights - The securities investment consulting industry is facing a significant increase in refund requests and customer complaints, driven by malicious "proxy rights protection" activities that harm the reputation of consulting firms [1][2][3] Refund and Complaint Trends - Refund amounts in the securities consulting industry reached 1.348 billion yuan in 2021, 2.328 billion yuan in 2022, and 2.445 billion yuan in 2023, with a continuing upward trend into 2024 [1] - The number of complaints to the Shanghai Securities Regulatory Bureau increased from 88 in 2022 to 821 in 2024, marking an 833% rise [1] - The refund rate for leading consulting firm Jiufang Zhitu reached 30.3% and 31% for its flagship and Qilong series, respectively, due to the rise in malicious proxy rights protection activities [3] Proxy Rights Protection Activities - Many clients report receiving similar messages or calls from proxy rights protection agencies, often using scripted language to demand refunds based on fabricated claims of being defrauded [2] - Proxy rights protection agencies typically charge around 30% of the recovered amount as service fees, often misleading investors about their qualifications and the legitimacy of their services [4][5] Industry Impact and Challenges - The investment consulting industry is experiencing operational imbalances, with revenue growth at 28% contrasted by an 81% increase in refund amounts and a 290% rise in complaint volumes [3] - The rise of proxy rights protection has created a "black and gray" industrial chain that affects not only consulting firms but also banks, insurance companies, and other financial service providers [6] Recommendations for Governance - Experts suggest a comprehensive governance system to combat the proxy rights protection issue, including enhancing investor education, tightening market entry standards for proxy rights organizations, and improving the response mechanisms of financial institutions [7]