A fake FCA or ASIC licence number scam is a deceptive tactic used by fraudulent brokers to pretend they are regulated by leading financial authorities—such as the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) or Australia’s Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). They display real or fabricated licence numbers on their websites, often cloned from legitimate firms, to build false trust and lure in unsuspecting traders.

In this article, we’ll explain how this scam works, how to verify regulatory claims, and how to protect yourself from brokers who falsely claim to be authorised when they are not.

What Is a Fake FCA/ASIC Licence Scam?

This scam involves a broker displaying a licence number on their website—claiming to be regulated by the FCA, ASIC, or another well-known financial body. In reality:

• The broker is not regulated at all
• The licence number belongs to a different company
• The regulator has no connection to the website in question

These brokers count on the fact that most traders won’t check beyond the website claims.

How the Scam Works

1. Licence Theft or Fabrication

The broker copies a real company’s registration number from a trusted regulator’s website, such as:

• FCA (UK) – www.fca.org.uk
• ASIC (Australia) – www.asic.gov.au

They paste it on their own site, creating a false appearance of legitimacy.

2. Clone Website or Misleading Branding

They use:

• A similar company name to the real licensee
• Logos, badges, and “authorised” wording
• Legal-looking documents like fake PDFs or certificates

3. The Setup

You’re encouraged to:

• Deposit funds quickly
• Believe your funds are protected
• Trade on a fake platform or with manipulated conditions

4. The Trap

Once you deposit:

• Withdrawals are delayed or blocked
• Support becomes unresponsive
• You realise the “regulator” has no record of the broker using that website or contact information

By then, your money is gone.

Why Scammers Use Real Licence Numbers

• To build instant credibility
• To bypass trader due diligence
• To appear regulated without meeting requirements
• To target regions with stricter licensing laws (like the UK and Australia)
• To silence doubts about withdrawals or platform issues

Red Flags of a Fake FCA/ASIC Licence

• Licence number on the website doesn’t link to the regulator’s site
• Company name is slightly different from the actual licence holder
• Domain name was registered recently or anonymously
• Website or emails direct you away from official regulator channels
• You’re told not to contact the regulator directly
• Phone numbers or addresses don’t match those listed on FCA or ASIC databases

Real Consequences for Traders

• Loss of entire deposits
• No compensation scheme access (e.g. FSCS in the UK)
• No legal protection from the regulator
• Little to no chance of recovery
• Re-targeting through “recovery agent” scams

How to Verify a Broker’s Regulation

1. Search the Regulator’s Public Register

Use the official links:

• FCA Register: register.fca.org.uk
• ASIC Connect: connectonline.asic.gov.au

Search by:

• Company name
• Licence/registration number
• Address or domain

2. Check the Domain

Even if the name and number match, verify the official domain. Cloned brokers often use:

• .net, .org, or .me instead of .com
• Minor spelling changes
• Domains registered recently

3. Call the Regulator Directly

Use the regulator’s official contact info. Ask:

• Is this website associated with the licensed firm?
• Does this broker have authorisation for the services they’re offering?

4. Watch for Clone Alerts

Both the FCA and ASIC publish lists of known clone firms. Check if the broker has been flagged already.

Learn to Identify Real vs. Fake Brokers

Understanding how real regulation works is critical for safe trading. Traders MBA offers trusted trading courses that cover broker vetting, regulatory structure, and how to protect your funds in the forex and crypto space.

Conclusion

Fake FCA and ASIC licence scams are among the most dangerous in the industry. They wear the mask of legitimacy while operating with zero accountability. A real licence number means nothing if it’s not tied to the actual website or company you’re using. Don’t trust the number—verify the source. Because in trading, regulation you can’t prove is just another lie waiting to cost you everything.