How to check if a broker is actually licensed

Before funding any trading account, confirm the firm is licensed. It takes minutes and it is the single most effective way to avoid a scam.

Step 1: Find the claimed regulator

Look for a licence number and the name of the regulator on the broker’s site (FCA, ASIC, CySEC, SEC and so on).

Step 2: Go to the regulator’s own website

Never trust a link from the broker. Search the regulator’s public register directly for the licence number and company name.

Step 3: Match the details

Check that the website domain and company name match the licensed entity exactly. Clone firms copy real licences but use a slightly different domain.

If anything doesn’t line up, walk away — and check our register for the name.