How to Verify a Broker's Regulation
Step 1 — Find the broker's regulation claim
The broker's website footer or "About" page will list which regulators it is registered with and its licence number. It will say something like: "Regulated by the FCA, licence number 509909." Note the number.
Step 2 — Go to the official register directly
Do not use the link on the broker's website. Type the register URL yourself:
| Regulator | Official Register URL |
|---|---|
| FCA (UK) | register.fca.org.uk |
| CySEC (Cyprus) | cysec.gov.cy/en-GB/regulated-entities/investment-firms/ |
| ASIC (Australia) | moneysmart.gov.au/check-register |
| BaFin (Germany) | bafin.de/EN/Aufsicht/BoersenMaerkte/FirmenDatenbank |
| MAS (Singapore) | eservices.mas.gov.sg/fid |
| DFSA (Dubai) | dfsa.ae/public-register |
Step 3 — Search for the licence number
Enter the licence number exactly as stated. The register will show the authorised firm. Check that:
- The firm name matches the broker you are using
- The status shows "Authorised" or "Active" — not "Revoked" or "Cancelled"
- The permitted activities include "Dealing in investments as principal" or "CFD trading"
- The address listed is consistent with what the broker claims
Red flags — signs the regulation is fake
These are signs the broker is not genuinely regulated:
- The licence number does not appear in the official register
- The name on the register is different from the broker's trading name with no explanation
- The licence status shows "Revoked" or a past date
- The broker claims to be "in the process of registration" — no licence means no regulation now
- The broker only lists obscure offshore licences (VFSC, MISA) with no Tier 1 licence for EU/UK/AU clients
- The broker's website has no physical address or shows a PO box only
What the FCA register shows — example
For Plus500, the FCA register entry shows: Plus500UK Ltd, FCA number 509909, status Authorised, permitted to deal in investments as principal. The entry also shows the registered address, directors, and any restrictions on their licence.
All 14 brokers on this site have had their licence numbers verified against the official public registers. Each review shows the exact licence number so you can verify it yourself.
Clone firm scams
A clone firm scam involves criminals using the name and FCA number of a legitimate regulated firm to deceive investors. The real firm has the licence; the criminals pretend to be them.
The FCA maintains a list of known clone firms at fca.org.uk/scamsmart. Check the broker's actual website domain matches the one listed on the FCA register. A slight difference in domain spelling is a warning sign.