Overview of Interactive Brokers

Interactive Brokers, founded in the United States, offers a wide array of trading assets including stocks, ETFs, forex, bonds, options, and futures, providing traders with various opportunities across global markets.

However, risks have been raised about its legitimacy, with reports of the platform being identified as a suspicious clone. Traders are directly impacted by the platform's regulatory status, influencing oversight, transparency, and legal protections. Adherence to regulatory standards instills confidence among traders regarding the platform's reliability and security, while any suspicion or regulatory ambiguity may undermine trust and deter participation, emphasizing the importance of due diligence.

Is Interactive Brokers legit or a scam？

Interactive Brokers is identified as Suspicious Clone under various regulatory bodies such as the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the United Kingdom, the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI), and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).

However, the presence of “Suspicious Clone” designations in some regions suggests potential regulatory risks. Traders on the platform are directly impacted by the regulatory status, as it influences the level of oversight, transparency, and legal protections afforded to their investments.

Adherence to regulatory standards instills confidence among traders regarding the platform's reliability and security, while any suspicion or regulatory ambiguity may undermine trust and deter participation. Thus, traders are likely to favor jurisdictions where Interactive Brokers maintains clear and reputable regulatory standing, ensuring a safer trading environment.

What are Clone Brokers？

The prevalence of clone brokers is increasingly alarming, as deceptive entities exploit the names of reputable firms to lure unsuspecting clients into believing they are trading with regulated forex firms.

These fraudulent companies go to great lengths, even utilizing the license numbers of legitimate brokers, to deceive traders into opening accounts with them. Remaining vigilant is paramount to avoid falling prey to such scams. Additionally, these unscrupulous entities resort to aggressive tactics, akin to boiler room operations, pressuring clients into opening accounts or increasing their deposits.

It's crucial to heed the adage: if something sounds too good to be true, it likely is. Traders must exercise caution and conduct thorough research before engaging with any brokerage firm to safeguard their investments and financial security.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Wide range of tradable assets: Interactive Brokers offers an extensive selection of tradable assets, including stocks, ETFs, forex, bonds, options, and futures. This diversity provides traders with ample opportunities to diversify their portfolios and explore various investment strategies, catering to different risk appetites and objectives.

• Access to global markets: The platform grants users access to a broad range of global markets, enabling them to trade securities and currencies from around the world. This global reach allows traders to capitalize on international market trends, economic developments, and geopolitical events, enhancing their trading flexibility and potential for profit.

Cons:

• Identified as Suspicious Clone: Some users have reported instances where Interactive Brokers was identified as a suspicious clone, potentially raising risks about the platform's legitimacy and trustworthiness. Such allegations can undermine user confidence and deter participation in trading activities.

• Limited customer support options: Interactive Brokers may offer limited options for customer support, which can lead to delays in addressing user inquiries, resolving issues, or providing assistance when needed. This lack of robust support channels may frustrate users and hinder their overall trading experience.

• Potential for technical glitches: Like any online platform, Interactive Brokers is susceptible to technical glitches or system failures, which can disrupt trading activities, cause delays in order execution, or lead to inaccuracies in account information. These technical issues may impede users' ability to trade effectively and impact their overall experience on the platform.

• Risk of exposure to scams: Users may face the risk of exposure to scams or fraudulent activities associated with Interactive Brokers, such as clone brokers attempting to deceive traders. Falling victim to such schemes can result in financial losses and damage to one's reputation, highlighting the importance of vigilance and due diligence when engaging with the platform.

Market Instruments

Interactive Brokers offers a wide range of tradable financial instruments on its platform.

Traders can access a variety of assets including Stocks, ETFs, Forex, Funds, Bonds, Options, Futures, CFDs, Cryptocurrencies, Warrants, and Structured Products.

This extensive selection provides traders with opportunities to diversify their investment portfolios and pursue different trading strategies across global markets.

With access to such a broad array of instruments, traders have the flexibility to capitalize on market opportunities and manage risk effectively.

Deposit & Withdrawal

Interactive Brokers offers a variety of payment methods to fund your account:

• Bank wire transfer: This is the most common and preferred method. It's free for most currencies.

• ACH transfer: This is another electronic transfer option available for US accounts. It's also free.

• Check: You can mail a check to Interactive Brokers. However, there may be processing fees and delays associated with this method.

• Wire transfer from another brokerage: You can transfer funds from another brokerage account to your Interactive Brokers account. This may be subject to fees from both brokers.

• Bill pay: This option is available for US accounts only. It allows you to pay your Interactive Brokers account from your bank's online bill pay service.

• Third-party deposits: Interactive Brokers generally discourages and rejects third-party deposits due to potential fraud and money laundering risks.

There is no minimum deposit required to open an Interactive Brokers account. This makes it a good option for beginners who want to start with a small amount of money.

Customer Support

Interactive Brokers provides the following contact information for customer support:

1. Twitter: @IBKR

2. Facebook: Interactive Brokers

3. Instagram: Interactive Brokers

4. YouTube: Interactive Brokers

5. LinkedIn: Interactive Brokers

These social media platforms serve as channels for reaching out to Interactive Brokers for support and assistance. However, Interactive Brokers' customer support lacks efficiency and responsiveness. Traders often encounter significant delays in receiving assistance, with support tickets remaining unresolved for extended periods. Communication channels such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn are available, but their effectiveness in addressing customer risks is questionable.

Exposure

Users have reported a single instance of exposure related to a pyramid scheme complaint, which unveiled a potential scam on the Interactive Brokers platform.

The complaint alleges that the platform induced clients to participate in activities, promising withdrawal options upon event completion. However, upon attempting to withdraw profits, users encountered obstacles, including unexpected tax requirements not deducted from the platform. The inability to access funds and unresponsive customer service exacerbates the situation for affected users. Such exposure to fraudulent activities undermines trust and confidence in the platform, potentially dissuading traders from engaging in further transactions.

Conclusion

This instance of Interactive Brokers is suspected to be a clone operated by a company known as Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. Notably, this particular iteration of Interactive Brokers lacks regulation, posing potential risks for traders. Therefore, it is advisable for traders to refrain from engaging with this broker.

General Information & Regulation

The Brand LegacyFX is an established broker providing a wide range of products and services for traders worldwide since 2017. It grants traders access to a broad spectrum of tradable assets, encompassing currencies, stocks, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. Through its MT5 trading platform, LegacyFX provides users with a seamless and intuitive interface, known for its robust functionality and ease of use.

The company “AN All New Investments BY LLC” (operating under the LegacyFX brand) was registered on 12/14/2018 (UNP 193180778) with Company Registration number 193180778 (Certificate of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus No. 17). The activities of AN All New Investments BY LLC are regulated by Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus No. 231 dated June 4, 2015 “On the implementation of activities in the OTC Forex market”.

Is LegacyFX Legit？

LegacyFX is regulated, operating under the supervision of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus and licensed under number 193180778. It ensures that brokers operate legally, minimizing the risk of fraudulent activities and fostering a secure trading environment. Regulated brokers adhere to stringent financial reporting standards, offering investors transparent and dependable information to make informed decisions. However, while regulation enhances oversight and accountability, it does not entirely eliminate risks. Therefore, traders should maintain vigilance and exercise caution when participating in online trading activities.

Pros and Cons

LegacyFX offers a diverse range of trading instruments, providing traders with ample opportunities to diversify their portfolios and explore various markets. The platform utilizes the popular MetaTrader 5 platform, known for its advanced trading tools and user-friendly interface, enhancing the trading experience for users. Additionally, LegacyFX operates with regulatory oversight, providing clients with an added layer of security and peace of mind. However, the platform's website is currently inaccessible, which could pose challenges for users trying to access essential information or execute trades. Furthermore, high account minimums can be a burden to most traders, especially beginners.

Market Instruments

Besides a good selection of currency pairs, traders can diversify their portfolio with indices, commodity CFDs, metals, cryptocurrency pairs, and stocks on LegacyFX platform.

Account Types

There are four account options on offer: Silver, Gold, Platinum, and VIP. The Silver account is available from a minimum deposit of $500, the Gold account for a deposit of $5,000, $25,000 for the Platinum account, and the VIP account is yielded for deposits exceeding $50,000. Swap-free Accounts are available, but swap-free accounts are granted to all traders.

LegacyFX Leverage

Leverage varies from 1:5 to 1:200 depending on the asset traded: Stocks – 1:5, Forex – 1:200, Metals – 1:100

Indices – 1:100, Commodities – 1:100, Cryptocurrencies – 1:5.

Spreads & Commissions

Traders can choose between fixed or variable spread accounts. Variable spreads for major forex pairs such as EUR/USD start at 1.6 pips with the Silver account. Spreads get tighter with the Gold and Platinum accounts, going down to 0.6 pips. Fixed spreads are around 3 pips for EUR/USD with the Silver account. All assets are commission-free, except for stocks where charges range from 0.15% to 0.45% depending on the account.

LegacyFX Trading Platform

LegacyFX offers traders access to the MetaTrader 5 (MT5) trading platform, renowned for its advanced features and versatility. With the MT5 platform, traders can execute trades across various financial markets, including forex, stocks, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies.

Deposit & Withdrawal

The minimum deposit for a LegacyFX account is $500, while there is a maximum deposit of $10,000 with credit/debit cards. LegacyFX‘s website clearly states that withdrawals to credit cards can only be in the amount of the deposit from that particular card; the remainder will be wired to the client’s bank account. Clicking on Bank Wire Transfers returns the bank wire information, while all other buttons lead to a log-in screen. Legacy FX covers all deposit and withdrawal fees for transactions via major credit/debit cards, Skrill, Neteller, and bank wires above $200.

Customer Support

LegacyFX offers customer support through email at info@legacyfx.by and phone at +375 291788410.

Conclusion

In summary, LegacyFX offers traders a wide array of trading instruments and account types, coupled with the renowned MetaTrader 5 platform, fostering flexible and accessible trading opportunities. The platform operates under regulatory oversight, ensuring adherence to industry standards and bolstering investor confidence. However, the inability to access the website and the lack of clarity regarding account types may hinder the trading experience for some users. Traders are advised to proceed with caution, conduct thorough research, and verify information directly with LegacyFX to mitigate potential risks and ensure a safer trading journey.

FAQs

Q: Is LegacyFX regulated？

A: Yes, LegacyFX is regulated by the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus and holds license number 193180778.

Q: What trading instruments are available on LegacyFX？

A: LegacyFX offers a diverse range of trading instruments, including currencies, stocks, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies.

Q: How can I contact LegacyFX's customer support？

A: You can contact LegacyFX's customer support via email at info@legacyfx.by or by phone at +375 291788410.

Risk Warning

Trading online carries inherent risks, and there's a possibility of losing your entire investment capital. It's crucial to acknowledge these risks and understand that the information presented in this review may not always be up-to-date due to changes in the company's services and policies. Therefore, readers are encouraged to verify the information directly with the company before making any decisions. Ultimately, it's the responsibility of the reader to use the information provided in this review wisely and make informed decisions.