Don't just look at the reference number! Mr.Forex teaches you how to verify broker authenticity and client money permissions
Preface: Why do 90% of people only do half the job when checking regulation?
When choosing a forex broker, almost all tutorials will tell you: "You must choose a platform regulated by the UK FCA (Financial Conduct Authority)." This statement is correct, but it is only half right.This article is part of our "Global Forex Regulation License Grading" series. If you are not yet clear why regulation is divided into three tiers, or want to understand the differences between other regulatory bodies (such as ASIC, NFA), we suggest you read our overview article first.
But in this article, we will focus on the UK FCA. In today's world where AI technology is rampant, the cost of forgery has dropped to near zero. Many investors think that simply copying the broker's name, pasting it into the FCA website, and seeing the status display "Authorised" is enough to safely open an account and deposit funds. This "surface-level" lazy check is exactly the loophole scammers love the most.
Today, I will not only teach you "how to check the FCA", but also teach you how to conduct a "fund safety forensic investigation" like a professional auditor. We will delve into how to spot highly realistic "clone firms," how to interpret the "client money permissions" hidden behind the license, and use the well-known broker Darwinex as an example to actually perform a complete due diligence process.
Please follow me step by step for a very detailed verification. Do not trust the certificate screenshots given on the broker's official website; you must personally verify it at the source.
External Link: [FCA Register Official Search Page (register.fca.org.uk)]
Caption: The search bar on the official website of the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Mr.Forex Experience: I strongly recommend entering the "Reference Number (FRN)". Because company names may change or have abbreviations, but the number is a unique ID card with the highest accuracy.
Operation Demo: We enter Darwinex's reference number "586466", select "Firms", and then click "Search".
Caption: Enter the FCA Reference Number "586466" and select "Firms" to query Darwinex broker information.
Please rest assured, this is the registered entity name of the company. After confirming that the reference number "586466" is correct, please directly click on the company name to enter the details page.
Caption: The search result shows that the corporate entity corresponding to reference number 586466 is TRADESLIDE TRADING TECH LTD.
1. Check Company Name and Brand:
The page title shows the registered name "TRADESLIDE TRADING TECH LTD". Please be sure to expand the "Trading names" section below, and you will see "DarwinEx" listed, which confirms that they are the same company.
2. Confirm Status:
This is the core indicator; it must display "Authorised". If it displays "No longer authorised", please stay away immediately.
Caption: FCA website verification demo: Simultaneously confirm "Registered Company Name", "Authorised Status", and the expanded "DarwinEx Trading Brand Name".
3. Confirm Website (Anti-Counterfeiting Key):
Now, we use official FCA data to verify. On Darwinex's FCA page, expand "Firm details", and you will see the officially registered data:
Caption: Verify against the legitimate broker contact information and official website registered on the FCA website.
Correct Practice:
Let's look at Darwinex's permission description; you need to look for this keyword: "This firm can hold and can control client money".
Has this line: It means it can compliantly hold client funds, your money will be stored in an independent trust account, and it is protected by FSCS compensation of up to £85,000.
Does not have this line (or displays Matched Principal): It means it may just be an intermediary or investment advisor and has no right to handle client funds. If it asks you to transfer money to its account, this is a major red flag.
Caption: FCA regulatory permission query to confirm the broker's qualification to hold client funds.
Through this standard process, we confirmed that Darwinex is not only "licensed" but a "fully licensed" safe broker with "fund holding rights". This is the standard action for professional traders when selecting a platform.
When you are selecting a broker, please place "safety" before "low spreads" or "high bonuses". Because in the forex market, the safety of principal is the 1, and profit is the 0 behind it; if the 1 is gone, no matter how many 0s follow, they are meaningless.
Never gamble your entire principal just to save these 3 minutes of query time. In the forex circle, lazy people are often the favorite ATMs for scam groups.
Mr.Forex Expert Tip: FCA is good, but leverage is too low?
To protect retail investors, the FCA mandatorily limits leverage to a maximum of 1:30. If you are a senior trader pursuing 1:500 or even higher leverage, you may encounter "offshore regulation" (such as Bahamas, Cayman). But please note, the water there is very deep.
Before you decide to transfer money to an offshore account, be sure to read our next truth.
Today, I will not only teach you "how to check the FCA", but also teach you how to conduct a "fund safety forensic investigation" like a professional auditor. We will delve into how to spot highly realistic "clone firms," how to interpret the "client money permissions" hidden behind the license, and use the well-known broker Darwinex as an example to actually perform a complete due diligence process.
Why is the FCA the "Gold Standard" for Fund Safety?
Among dozens of regulatory bodies globally, why do professional traders exclusively respect the FCA? Not because of its fame, but because it has the strictest control over "money." A full FCA license implies a three-layer protection net:- Segregated Accounts: Brokers must deposit client funds in independent trust accounts at top-tier banks, completely separate from the company's own operating funds. Even if the broker goes bankrupt, creditors have no right to touch your money.
- Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS): This is the FCA's most powerful weapon. If a broker unfortunately collapses and cannot repay client funds, the FSCS provides compensation protection of up to £85,000 per investor.
- Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS): Encountered malicious slippage or unable to withdraw funds? As an independent third-party institution, the FOS has the right to intervene and adjudicate, and its rulings are legally binding on the broker.
3 Steps to Check the FCA Website (Using Darwinex as an Example)
To make it clearer for everyone how to operate, we will use a broker with a good regulatory record in the industry—Darwinex—as a demonstration. The registered corporate entity name of this broker at the FCA is "Tradeslide Trading Tech Limited".Please follow me step by step for a very detailed verification. Do not trust the certificate screenshots given on the broker's official website; you must personally verify it at the source.
Step 1: Enter the Official Database
First, please click the link below to go to the official FCA query page (this is the only entry point with legal validity):External Link: [FCA Register Official Search Page (register.fca.org.uk)]
Caption: The search bar on the official website of the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Step 2: Enter Key Information (Searching by Number is More Accurate than Name)
In the search field, I have two choices: enter the name or the reference number.Mr.Forex Experience: I strongly recommend entering the "Reference Number (FRN)". Because company names may change or have abbreviations, but the number is a unique ID card with the highest accuracy.
Operation Demo: We enter Darwinex's reference number "586466", select "Firms", and then click "Search".
Caption: Enter the FCA Reference Number "586466" and select "Firms" to query Darwinex broker information.
Step 3: Click on the Correct Search Result
After clicking search, the system will display matching companies. At this point, you may find that the displayed name is "TRADESLIDE TRADING TECH LTD", not the Darwinex you are familiar with.Please rest assured, this is the registered entity name of the company. After confirming that the reference number "586466" is correct, please directly click on the company name to enter the details page.
Caption: The search result shows that the corporate entity corresponding to reference number 586466 is TRADESLIDE TRADING TECH LTD.
Step 4: Confirm Identity and Status
After entering the details page, we need to perform three final verifications:1. Check Company Name and Brand:
The page title shows the registered name "TRADESLIDE TRADING TECH LTD". Please be sure to expand the "Trading names" section below, and you will see "DarwinEx" listed, which confirms that they are the same company.
2. Confirm Status:
This is the core indicator; it must display "Authorised". If it displays "No longer authorised", please stay away immediately.
Caption: FCA website verification demo: Simultaneously confirm "Registered Company Name", "Authorised Status", and the expanded "DarwinEx Trading Brand Name".
3. Confirm Website (Anti-Counterfeiting Key):
The Devil is in the Details: How to Spot "Clone Firms"?
Many investors have a fatal misconception: thinking that "the website exists, the LOGO is correct, and the regulation number can be found" means it is safe. But today, cloning a website takes only 5 minutes. I have seen "clone websites" made to look even more like the official site than the real one; their only loophole is often hidden in a single letter.Now, we use official FCA data to verify. On Darwinex's FCA page, expand "Firm details", and you will see the officially registered data:
- Website: www.darwinex.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: +442037691554
Caption: Verify against the legitimate broker contact information and official website registered on the FCA website.
1. Identify the "Flaws" of Imposters
The hardest thing for scammers to imitate is the "communication channel".- Check the Domain: If the FCA official website registers www.darwinex.com, but the account opening link you open is www.darwinex-vip.com, www.dw-invest.net, or www.darwinex-group.com, no matter how beautiful the page is, this is a scam.
- Check the Email: Legitimate FCA brokers will never use Gmail, Hotmail, or emails inconsistent with the official website domain to contact you. If the official website is @darwinex.com, but the contact comes from @darwinex-support.com, please block it immediately.
2. Reverse Verification Method
Never call the customer service number at the bottom of the clone website! Because if it is a fake website, the person answering the phone is a customer service agent for the scam group.Correct Practice:
- Open the FCA official regulation page we just queried.
- Find the "Firm Details" section.
- Call the main switchboard number registered on the FCA page, or send an email to the Email registered on the FCA page.
- Directly ask the official: "I am browsing this URL (report the URL), is this operated by you?"
Advanced: Is Your Account Really Protected?
Having found the company, you still have to confirm whether it has the qualification to "hold money". At the bottom of the FCA page, expand "Restrictions" >> "Client Money".Let's look at Darwinex's permission description; you need to look for this keyword: "This firm can hold and can control client money".
Has this line: It means it can compliantly hold client funds, your money will be stored in an independent trust account, and it is protected by FSCS compensation of up to £85,000.
Does not have this line (or displays Matched Principal): It means it may just be an intermediary or investment advisor and has no right to handle client funds. If it asks you to transfer money to its account, this is a major red flag.
Caption: FCA regulatory permission query to confirm the broker's qualification to hold client funds.
Through this standard process, we confirmed that Darwinex is not only "licensed" but a "fully licensed" safe broker with "fund holding rights". This is the standard action for professional traders when selecting a platform.
Conclusion: Safety is Something You Fight For
There is no 100% safety in the financial market, but through rigorous FCA inquiries and cross-referencing, we can filter out 99% of obvious risks.When you are selecting a broker, please place "safety" before "low spreads" or "high bonuses". Because in the forex market, the safety of principal is the 1, and profit is the 0 behind it; if the 1 is gone, no matter how many 0s follow, they are meaningless.
Never gamble your entire principal just to save these 3 minutes of query time. In the forex circle, lazy people are often the favorite ATMs for scam groups.
Mr.Forex Expert Tip: FCA is good, but leverage is too low?
To protect retail investors, the FCA mandatorily limits leverage to a maximum of 1:30. If you are a senior trader pursuing 1:500 or even higher leverage, you may encounter "offshore regulation" (such as Bahamas, Cayman). But please note, the water there is very deep.
Before you decide to transfer money to an offshore account, be sure to read our next truth.
Hi, We are the Mr.Forex Research Team
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