Key takeaways
- Promised returns, pressure and personal payment accounts are the most reliable warning signs.
- Verification takes minutes; recovery after a scam rarely succeeds.
- Never grant remote access or share platform passwords.
Fraudulent brokers rarely look fraudulent at first. They have polished websites, friendly account managers and screenshots of profit. What gives them away is behaviour, and the behaviour follows a handful of repeating patterns.
The seven patterns
| # | Red flag | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guaranteed or very high returns | No legitimate firm can promise profit. Markets move both ways. |
| 2 | Unsolicited contact | Cold calls, social media DMs and 'mentors' who found you are a common first step. |
| 3 | Pressure to deposit now | Countdown offers and 'limited seats' exist to stop you from checking. |
| 4 | Payment to personal accounts or crypto wallets | A real broker pays client money into segregated corporate bank accounts. |
| 5 | No verifiable licence | See our licence-verification guide. 'Registered' is not 'regulated'. |
| 6 | Withdrawal friction | Sudden fees, tax 'unlocking' payments or endless verification when you ask for your money. |
| 7 | Control of your account | Anyone asking for remote access or your platform password. |
What to do when you notice one
A calm response plan
- Pause and stop sending money. Scammers rely on momentum. Nothing legitimate is lost by waiting 24 hours.
- Collect evidence. Save chats, emails, transaction receipts and website addresses. Take screenshots with dates.
- Contact your bank or card issuer. Ask about reversing or disputing recent transfers. Speed matters.Tip: Report the beneficiary account so it can be flagged.
- Report to the regulator and the police. Most regulators accept scam reports and use them for public warnings.
- Beware of 'recovery' offers. Fraud victims are often targeted again by people promising to retrieve funds for an upfront fee.
Use the Scam Broker ShieldSearch a broker name, domain or licence number in Brokeli's safety checker before you register. It compares the query with regulated brokers, warning lists and user-submitted evidence.