Common Questions
How do I check whether a broker website is actually regulated?
Start with the regulator’s own public register. In the UK that is the FCA register, in the US the FINRA BrokerCheck database, and in Australia ASIC’s register. Search the firm’s exact legal name, not just the trading name shown on their website. A match there is a meaningful signal; no match is a serious concern.
What does a review on this site actually cover?
Each review works through a checklist: regulatory status, domain registration age, ownership transparency, payment methods accepted, and any complaints filed with regulators. The aim is to show the evidence so you can weigh it yourself, not simply to hand down a verdict. Not every reviewed site is fraudulent.
A trading website is showing me large profits in a demo account. Should I trust that?
Demo account figures are controlled entirely by the platform and carry no obligation to reflect real market conditions. A site that shows spectacular demo returns to encourage a deposit is using a sales technique, not a proof of performance. Regulated brokers are required to display standardised risk warnings instead.
Where can I report a fraudulent investment website?
Reports can be filed directly with your national financial regulator, for example the FCA, SEC, ASIC, or CySEC depending on where you are based. You can also report to national fraud reporting bodies such as Action Fraud in the UK. Independent legal advisers can help you prepare and submit those reports correctly.
How to Check a Broker
01
Find the Regulator
Identify which financial authority the broker claims to be licensed by, then go directly to that authority’s public register. The register search, not the broker’s own website, is the starting point.
02
Verify the Licence Number
Copy the licence or registration number from the broker’s site and search it on the regulator’s register. A name match without a number match, or a number that returns a different firm, means the claim does not hold up.
03
Check Supporting Details
A professional-looking website is not evidence of legitimacy. Cross-reference the domain registration date, the listed company address, and any named directors against public company records to see whether the details are consistent.
Reading a Review Carefully
A useful review separates what can be confirmed from what cannot. Regulatory status can be confirmed through official registers. Customer complaint patterns can be observed across public forums and regulator warning lists. Domain and company details can be cross-checked against public records. Where evidence is thin or contradictory, a reliable review says so plainly rather than filling the gap with assumption.
Latest Reviews
Recent broker and trading platform reviews show which details to examine and why they matter before you commit funds.