A broker’s website can say anything. A regulator’s public register is the record to trust. The check is quick once you know what to look for.
- Find the legal entity and licence number. They are usually in the website footer, on a legal or regulation page, or in the client agreement. Write down the company name exactly.
- Open the regulator’s own register. Go to the regulator’s site directly rather than through a link on the broker’s site.
- Search by licence number, then by name. The number is the more reliable key.
- Compare three things: the company name, the permitted activities (for example dealing in CFDs), and the status (authorised, not suspended or withdrawn). The website address listed should also match.
- Check warning lists. Search the regulator’s warning list and IOSCO’s I-SCAN portal for the firm and its brand name.
- Confirm this is the entity that will hold your account. A broker can be genuinely licensed in one country and serve you from an unlicensed company in another.
Where to look
- FCA Register (UK)
- FCA Warning List
- ASIC registers (Australia)
- CySEC: investment firms (Cyprus and EU)
- FSCA (South Africa)
- IOSCO I-SCAN (warnings from many regulators)
Reading the result
| What you find | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Name, number and permissions match, status authorised | The entity is licensed for that activity in that jurisdiction |
| Similar name but different company or country | Possible clone, or a different entity than the one advertised. Ask the broker in writing |
| Licence exists but is cancelled, suspended or lacks the right permissions | Do not deposit |
| No licence number given at all | Treat as unlicensed until proven otherwise |
| Licence is from a small offshore jurisdiction | It may be genuine, but protections are usually weaker than UK, EU or Australian regimes. Read what the broker says you are covered by |
Key takeaway
Being regulated somewhere is not the same as being regulated for you. Check the entity, the permissions and the jurisdiction.
General information for education only, not financial advice. Trading forex and CFDs carries a high risk of loss. Read the disclaimer.