Recognising Fake Broker Websites
If a broker website raised a question in your mind, the reviews and guides here can help you read the signs.
How to Check a Broker Site
Researching an unfamiliar trading website takes a few deliberate steps, and each one can reveal something useful.
01
Find the Licence Details
A legitimate broker holds a licence from a financial regulator, a government body that sets rules for how brokers must treat clients. Look for a licence number on the website and verify it directly on the regulator’s public register.
02
Read Independent Reviews
Reviews written outside the broker’s own website give a clearer picture of how the service actually behaves. Pay attention to patterns in complaints, not just individual opinions, because isolated comments can appear on any site.
03
Examine the Withdrawal Terms
Before depositing any money, read the terms around withdrawals, meaning the conditions under which you can take your funds out. Vague language or unusually long waiting periods are worth investigating before you commit.
04
Confirm Contact Information Works
A common question is whether a broker website is genuinely reachable. Test the phone number and email address listed, and check whether a physical business address can be verified through a public business registry.
A broker website that cannot show a verifiable licence number from a named regulator gives you no independent way to confirm it is following any rules.
Editorial policy
Warning Signs to Know
Signs Worth Investigating
- No verifiable licence number listed anywhere
- Guaranteed profit figures stated as fact
- Withdrawal requests delayed without explanation
- Contact details that cannot be verified
Signs of a Credible Site
- Licence verified on a regulator’s public register
- Clear risk warnings displayed on the site
- Withdrawal terms written in plain, specific language
- A working address confirmed through a business registry
Latest Broker Reviews
Wondering whether a site you found is regulated or not, the reviews below look at the details that matter most.