Trading Scams
Trading scams are now one of the most reported forms of investment fraud in the UK. If you have been pressured into deposits, denied withdrawals, or lured by guaranteed returns, you may have a recoverable claim.
£612m+
Lost to investment fraud in the UK in 2024 (Action Fraud)
$30M+
Recovered for our clients to date
4.8 ★
Trustpilot rating
Secure
Encrypted case vault
Overview
Trading scams are now one of the most reported forms of investment fraud in the UK. If you have been pressured into deposits, denied withdrawals, or lured by guaranteed returns, you may have a recoverable claim.
Warning Signs to Watch For
- • Unsolicited contact by phone, email, or social media offering an investment opportunity
- • Promises of guaranteed, high, or risk-free returns
- • High-pressure tactics urging you to deposit quickly or "before the offer closes"
- • Refusal, delay, or new "fees" demanded when you try to withdraw
- • A broker that is not authorised on the FCA register
- • A new "account manager" frequently being assigned to your case
- • Requests to install remote-access software (e.g. AnyDesk, TeamViewer)
How Trading Scams Operate
Fraudulent brokers use a familiar playbook: a polished website, a friendly sales call, a small initial deposit, and a quick "win" on a demo trade to build trust. Over weeks or months, victims are pressured into ever-larger deposits, often using leverage they do not fully understand. When they try to withdraw, the firm produces invented tax bills, "release fees," or simply stops responding.
Common Variants We See
- Unregulated CFD and forex brokers operating from offshore jurisdictions
- Cloned firms using the name and FCA reference of a legitimate broker
- Signal-selling and "managed account" scams tied to fraudulent platforms
- Recovery-room fraud — fake "asset recovery" firms targeting earlier victims
The Legal & Regulatory Routes
Most claims combine several recovery channels: chargeback or Section 75 claims against the card issuer; complaints to the receiving bank under the Contingent Reimbursement Model (CRM) Code; escalations to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS); regulatory complaints to the FCA or the broker's home regulator (CySEC, ASIC, BaFin); and, where appropriate, civil action against directors and payment intermediaries.
What We Need From You
To assess your case quickly, please gather your trading account statements, deposit confirmations, all correspondence with the broker, copies of any contracts you signed, and bank statements showing the outgoing payments. Don't worry if anything is missing — we can usually obtain records through subject access requests.
Our Approach
Investigate
We verify the broker, examine your account history, and identify regulatory and contractual breaches.
Trace
We follow the money through banking and payment-processor records to locate where your funds are now held.
Pursue
We file regulatory complaints, chargeback claims, and legal demands against the responsible parties.
Recover
We negotiate, settle, or litigate to return your funds — keeping you informed at every stage.