How it works
Common patterns include fake brokers, account-management schemes, signal sellers promising certainty, impersonation of regulated firms and cloned regulator details.
What to check
Verify firms directly in the regulator's register and use contact details from the regulator or official company site. Be suspicious of guaranteed returns, secret strategies and requests to send money to personal accounts.
- Verify licence and domain separately
- Reject guaranteed-return claims
- Use official contact details
Limits and risks
Fraudsters can copy logos, websites and licence numbers from legitimate firms. A real licence number is not enough if it belongs to a different company or domain.
Primary sources
BIS 2025 Triennial Central Bank Survey↗FCA: Contracts for difference (CFDs)↗General information only. Investment products can lose value, and terms, fees and regulation can change.