Regulation and identity red flags
1. Fake or unverifiable regulation — a licence number that isn't on the regulator's public register, or a claim to be “regulated” by a body that doesn't supervise brokers.
2. Offshore-only with no real address — a broker registered only in a jurisdiction with no meaningful oversight and no verifiable physical presence.
3. Cloned or lookalike websites — scammers copy legitimate brokers. Check the exact domain and be wary of links from unsolicited messages.
Money and withdrawal red flags
4. Withdrawal games — your deposit clears instantly, but withdrawals trigger endless verification, sudden fees, or a demand to trade more volume first. This is the single most common scam pattern.
5. Bonuses that trap funds — “deposit bonuses” with volume requirements so high you can't withdraw your own money.
6. Pressure to deposit more — an “account manager” urging you to add funds to hit a bigger profit or unlock a withdrawal.
Sales and promise red flags
7. Guaranteed profits or “risk-free” trading — no legitimate broker promises this; trading is inherently risky.
8. Someone trading on your behalf — “managed accounts” run by the broker's staff or a random “mentor” are a frequent fraud vehicle.
9. Cold contact and social-media DMs — unsolicited investment pitches, especially with screenshots of huge gains.
10. High-pressure urgency — “limited-time” offers designed to stop you from doing your own checks.
What to do instead
Verify regulation on the regulator's register, search for consistent withdrawal complaints, and test with a small deposit and withdrawal before committing more. Our per-broker “scam or legit” assessments and reviews are built to help you run these checks quickly.