Online Trading and Consumer Safety
Find independent reviews of trading and investment websites before you commit your money.
What a Licence Check Shows
A professional-looking website is not evidence of regulation. The first step is to search the platform’s stated company name against the public registers of regulators such as the FCA, ASIC, CySEC or the SEC. If the name does not appear, or appears on a warning list, that result matters more than any badge displayed on the site itself. An inconclusive search is worth noting too, because legitimate brokers do not hide their registration details.
Reading the Terms Before You Deposit
A common question is whether the terms and conditions of a trading site actually say what the sales pitch implies. Reading the withdrawal conditions, fee schedule and jurisdiction clause in the terms is the place to start. These sections often contain restrictions that contradict what a site promotes on its front page. If the governing law is unclear or points to a jurisdiction with no accessible regulator, that is worth weighing carefully before proceeding.
Common Questions
How do I check whether a trading website is regulated?
Search the company name and any registration number shown on the site directly in the public register of the regulator it claims to be authorised by. The FCA register, ASIC connect and the SEC EDGAR database are all free to use. If the name is absent or the registration number belongs to a different firm, treat that as a serious concern.
What should I do if a trading site is refusing to process my withdrawal?
Document every request in writing and keep copies of all account statements and correspondence. Then identify the regulator responsible for the jurisdiction the platform operates under and submit a formal complaint to that body. Independent legal advisers who work with regulatory reporting can assist with preparing and filing that complaint to the appropriate authority.
Are all the websites reviewed here confirmed scams?
No. Reviews on this site cover a range of platforms, and the findings differ. Some pass the checks examined, some raise concerns, and some checks return inconclusive results. Each review sets out what was found and what could not be verified, so you can read the evidence and reach your own assessment.
Latest Reviews
Each review examines the supporting evidence behind a trading or investment website, not just its surface appearance.