Is IG Group a Scam or Legit?
IG Group holds a valid FCA licence. The number is public and verifiable.
IG Group is regulated under FCA licence 195355, issued to IG Markets Ltd. This licence appears in the FCA public register. IG Group has been operating since 1974 — 52 years. Scam operations do not maintain long-term regulated status.
The FCA registration
| Regulator | FCA |
| Licence number | 195355 ✓ |
| Registered entity | IG Markets Ltd |
| Status | Authorised |
| Register | register.fca.org.uk |
| Years regulated | 52+ |
What FCA regulation means for you
FCA-regulated brokers must keep client funds in accounts segregated from company funds, provide negative balance protection, and contribute to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), which covers up to £85,000 per client if the broker becomes insolvent.
All regulatory licences
IG Group holds 7 regulatory licences across different jurisdictions. The entity that applies to your account depends on your country of residence.
| Regulator | Licence | Entity | Max leverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| FCA | 195355 | IG Markets Ltd | 1:30 max |
| ASIC | 220440 | IG Markets Ltd (AU) | 1:30 max |
| BaFin | 149169 | IG Europe GmbH | 1:30 max |
| FSCA | 41393 | IG Markets South Africa Ltd | 1:400 max |
| MAS | 200510021K | IG Asia Pte Ltd | 1:20 max |
| JFSA | 関東財務局長(金商)第2526号 | IG Securities Ltd | 1:25 max |
| CFTC | 0509630 | IG US LLC | 1:50 max |
How to verify IG Group yourself
Go to register.fca.org.uk. Enter the licence number 195355 or search by entity name IG Markets Ltd. The result should show the entity name, authorisation status, and the specific regulated activities it is permitted to conduct.
This takes under a minute. If a broker cannot be found on the relevant regulator's register, that is a serious warning sign. All legitimate regulated brokers appear there.
Common complaints and what they mean
IG complaints mostly involve the inactivity fee (£12/month after 2 years) and the complexity of the fee schedule for shares. Guaranteed stop-loss order charges surprise some traders. No material complaints about withdrawal processing.
None of these patterns indicate fraud. They are the normal complaints of a commercial brokerage enforcing its terms. Real forex scams operate without any regulatory licence, refuse all withdrawals, and disappear with client funds. That is not the profile of IG Group.
Red flags that would indicate a real scam
When researching any broker, watch for these genuine warning signs:
- No licence number listed, or a licence that cannot be found on the official register
- Pressure to deposit more money to unlock withdrawals
- Promises of guaranteed returns or "risk-free" trading
- Platform that only shows profits, never losses
- No physical address or contact information
- Licence from a regulator you have never heard of that has no official website
None of these apply to IG Group. Its FCA licence 195355 is publicly verifiable, it has disclosed offices in London, UK, and it has operated continuously since 1974.
Frequently asked questions
Is IG Group safe to deposit money with?
IG Group is FCA-regulated and client funds are held in segregated accounts. UK clients are also covered by the FSCS up to £85,000. This does not eliminate trading risk, but it protects funds from broker insolvency.
Why do people ask if IG Group is a scam?
Most forex scam searches come from traders who lost money trading. CFD trading is high-risk — 69% of IG Group retail clients lose money. Losing money on a legitimate platform does not make it a scam. Scams refuse all withdrawals and disappear. IG Group has processed billions in withdrawals over 52 years of operation.
Is IG Group regulated in my country?
IG Group holds licences covering 11 countries across 7 regulatory jurisdictions. The entity serving your account depends on your country. Check the full licence table above to find which entity applies to your region.
What happens to my money if IG Group goes bankrupt?
FCA-regulated brokers must hold client funds in segregated bank accounts entirely separate from company operating funds. UK clients also have FSCS protection up to £85,000.