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.

Risk Warning

Online trading involves significant risk, and you may lose all of your invested capital. It is not suitable for all traders or investors. Please ensure that you understand the risks involved and note that the information contained in this article is for general information purposes only.

General Information

What is Valutrades？

Valutrades is a global online forex and CFD broker that offers trading services for individuals and institutions. The company was established in 2012 and is headquartered in London, UK. Valutrades is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA, License No. 586541) in the UK and the Financial Services Authority (offshore FSA, License No. SD028) in Seychelles. The broker offers multiple trading instruments, including Forex, Commodities, and CFDs with competitive spreads through the MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) trading platforms.

In the following article, we will analyze the characteristics of this broker from various aspects, providing you with simple and organized information. If you are interested, please read on. At the end of the article, we will also briefly make a conclusion so that you can understand the broker's characteristics at a glance.

Pros & Cons

Valutrades is regulated by FCA and offer multiple protection measures. The broker offers competitive spreads on a wide range of tradable instruments on the leading MT4 and MT5 trading platforms, along with excellent customer support.

However, they have limited account options, and some users have reported issues with slippage and withdrawals. Overall, Valutrades is a reputable broker with many positive features, but traders should exercise caution and thoroughly research before investing.

Valutrades Alternative Brokers

There are many alternative brokers to Valutrades depending on the specific needs and preferences of the trader. Some popular options include:

• AxiCorp - a regulated and well-established broker that offers a range of trading instruments and competitive trading conditions.

• IronFX - a global broker with a wide range of trading instruments and multiple trading platforms, but some traders have reported issues with withdrawal and customer service.

• FP Markets - a reputable broker that offers a variety of trading instruments, low spreads, and reliable trading platforms, making it a good option for both novice and experienced traders.

Ultimately, the best broker for an individual trader will depend on their specific trading style, preferences, and needs.

Is Valutrades Safe or Scam？

More details can be found in the screenshot below:

Our Conclusion on Valutrades Reliability:

Based on the protection measures offered, Valutrades appears to be a reliable broker. The company is regulated by the FCA, and it offers guaranteed negative balance protection, banking with top tier institutions, segregated funds, and investor protection up to £85,000 per person. The fully encrypted client area also provides an additional layer of security for clients.

However, as with any investment, there is always some level of risk involved, and it is important for traders to do their own research and carefully consider their options before investing.

Market Instruments

Valutrades offers investors access to a variety of over 100 tradable symbols across Forex, commodities, and CFDs. The forex instruments include major, minor, and exotic currency pairs. Commodities such as gold, silver, oil, and natural gas are available for trading. Additionally, the broker offers CFDs on popular indices such as UK100, US30, and GER30. With such a wide range of trading instruments, traders can diversify their trading portfolios and take advantage of different market conditions.

Accounts

Live accounts: Valutrades provides traders with the option to choose from two types of live accounts, Standard and ECN, with no minimum deposit requirement.

Demo accounts: The MetaTrader demo accounts offer a variety of analytical indicators, EA, Economic calendars, and more. Users can set their own limit in terms of virtual funds, but note the account will expire if not used within a month.

Leverage

Valutrades offers multiple leverage levels. The maximum leverage is 1:30 for major Forex, 1:20 for minor currencies, indices, and gold, and 1:10 for crude oil under the regulation of FCA, and 1:500 for crude oil, 1:20 for indices, and 1:100 for indices.

Spreads & Commissions

• Main spreads on Forex: minimum spreads of 0.0 pips on EUR/USD and 0.2 pips on GBPUSD.

• Major spreads for CFD products: 2 pips for DE30, 2 pips for UK100, 0.34 pips for US500, and 1.3 pips for US30.

• Main spreads for commodities: from 0.14 pips for Gold USD, 0.32 pips for Gold EUR, 0.013 pips for Silver USD.

However, traders should note that there is a commission of 3 per lot per side for forex trading.

Below is a comparison table about spreads and commissions charged by different brokers:

Please note that these figures are subject to change and may vary depending on the specific account type and trading conditions offered by each broker. It's always important to review and compare the spreads and fees of different brokers before making a decision on which one to use.

Trading Platforms

Valutrades offers users a choice of two popular trading platforms, MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), which are available on desktop, mobile and web versions. Both platforms provide advanced charting tools, customizable technical indicators, and a user-friendly interface.

• MT4 is widely recognized as one of the most popular trading platforms in the industry and offers a wide range of features including automated trading, multiple order types, and a comprehensive trading history.

• MT5, on the other hand, is an updated version of MT4, providing more advanced features, including additional order types, a wider range of technical indicators, and the ability to trade in various markets from one platform. Both platforms are highly customizable, and traders can also use Expert Advisors (EAs) to automate their trading strategies.

Overall, Valutrades' trading platforms are well-designed, user-friendly, and offer a range of advanced features suitable for both beginner and experienced traders. See the trading platform comparison table below:

Deposits & Withdrawals

Valutrades supports credit/debit cards, Skrill, Neteller, bank transfers, etc. There is no minimum deposit for clients to fund via bank transfer or any charges from Valutrades.

Valutrades minimum deposit vs other brokers

However, sometimes a client may incur fees from their bank for sending a deposit to Valutrades. Most deposits are instant, while withdrawals can be processed within 24 hours or as soon as Valutrades approves your request. More details can be found on their website.

See the fee comparison table below:

Note that fees may vary depending on the account type, payment method, and region. Please refer to each broker's website for the most up-to-date and accurate information.

Customer Service

Valutrades welcome any questions or queries regarding their services and accounts. Multilingual support is based in their head office which is in London, United Kingdom. They are available during office hours via live online chat, phone, WhatsApp, email, or send messages online to get in touch. Besides, you can follow them on some social networks including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. There is also a Help Center on the Valutrades website.

Overall, Valutrades' customer service is considered reliable and responsive, with various options available for traders to seek assistance.

Note: These pros and cons are subjective and may vary depending on the individual's experience with Valutrades' customer service.

Education

Valutrades offers an education section on their website with a variety of resources aimed at both novice and experienced traders. They offer regular webinars conducted by market experts, which cover various topics related to trading, including technical analysis, risk management, and trading psychology. Additionally, the blog section provides daily market analysis, economic news, and insights into market movements.

The educational materials are designed to help traders enhance their knowledge and skills, develop trading strategies, and make informed trading decisions. These resources can be accessed by anyone, regardless of their account type, and are completely free of charge.

User Exposure on WikiFX

On our website, you can see that some users have reported severe slippage and unable to withdraw. Please be aware and exercise caution when investing. You can check our platform for information before trading. If you find such fraudulent brokers or have been a victim of one, please let us know in the Exposure section, we would appreciate it and our team of experts will do everything possible to solve the problem for you.

Conclusion

Valutrades is a UK-based brokerage firm that offers multiple protection measures to ensure the safety of its clients' funds. It provides over 100 tradable symbols across forex, commodities, and CFDs with competitive trading conditions on the MT4 and MT5 platforms. Multilingual support is also available via various channels.

However, there are reports of severe slippage and difficulties in withdrawing funds from some users, which indicates that potential traders should exercise caution before investing. Overall, Valutrades' strong regulatory framework, diverse trading instruments, and user-friendly platforms make it a reputable brokerage firm worth considering for those looking for a reliable trading partner.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)