Broker & Investment Red Flags
Use this checklist to assess services before depositing—and to document issues if you already did.
Common patterns
- Guaranteed returns or secret strategies.
- “VIP” tiers that require ever‑larger deposits.
- Dashboard‑only growth with no external reconciliation.
- Withdrawal blockers: “tax/fee first”, “KYC penalty”, “AML hold”.
How to verify claims
- Request the exact legal entity and jurisdiction.
- Confirm if it’s authorized to hold client funds in that jurisdiction.
- Identify where fiat/crypto actually settles (custodian, exchange, bank).
- Ask for a written complaints process and timelines.
If you’re already stuck
- Stop sending money; avoid sharing extra personal docs.
- Export evidence: statements, chat logs, addresses, tx IDs.
- Document withdrawal attempts with timestamped screenshots.
- Open disputes with payment providers; include your timeline.