Fixed return fraud is a common forex and crypto investment scam where a platform or broker promises guaranteed profits—such as “10% per week” or “double your money in 30 days”—regardless of market conditions. These schemes lure traders and investors by exploiting greed, inexperience, and financial desperation, while hiding behind vague terms, fake testimonials, and fabricated performance results. In truth, there is no such thing as a fixed return in trading—and platforms that offer it are designed to collapse or disappear with your money.

In this article, we break down how fixed return fraud works, the red flags to watch for, and how to protect yourself from promises that defy market reality.

What Is Fixed Return Fraud?

Fixed return fraud involves:

• Guaranteed earnings (e.g., 5% daily, 20% weekly, or 100% monthly)
• No mention of market risk, volatility, or strategy
• The use of automated bots, copy trading, or “elite managers” to justify the returns
• Requests for initial deposits into non-withdrawable “investment accounts”

Once your funds are locked in, the scammer either:

• Disappears
• Stalls withdrawals with fake taxes or “holding periods”
• Or collapses the scheme in a classic Ponzi model, using new deposits to pay old ones

How the Scam Works

1. The Hook: Unrealistic Returns

Scammers advertise:

• “Get 3% daily for life!”
• “Guaranteed $2,000/week from a $500 investment”
• “Risk-free forex trading—profits every time!”

They use:

• Social media ads
• Telegram/WhatsApp groups
• Instagram “traders” flaunting luxury lifestyles

2. The Deposit Trap

You’re asked to deposit into:

• A crypto wallet
• A forex trading account “managed” by the broker
• A web-based investment platform with dashboards and fake balances

The site displays “profits” growing daily—purely simulated, not real trading.

3. Payouts Are Delayed or Blocked

When you try to withdraw:

• You’re told to pay a “release fee”, “tax”, or “anti-money laundering clearance”
• The platform suddenly enforces a minimum withdrawal limit
• Or they vanish completely—website offline, support gone

Why Fixed Return Scams Work

• They exploit human desire for predictable income
• Many new traders don’t understand that returns can’t be guaranteed
• Fake success stories, reviews, and bots build false credibility
• Victims often reinvest before realising it’s fake
• Fear of missing out (FOMO) overrides common sense

Red Flags of Fixed Return Fraud

• Returns are guaranteed or “fixed” with no risk disclosures
• No explanation of the trading strategy or performance metrics
• Withdrawal only possible after reaching a profit threshold
• Broker offers managed accounts with no regulation
• You’re pressured to “act fast” before the opportunity closes
• No regulatory information, licences, or legal disclaimers on the site
• “Profits” keep rising, but your withdrawal never arrives

Real Consequences for Victims

• Loss of all invested funds
• Stolen identity and bank data if KYC was submitted
• Exposure to re-victimisation by recovery scams
• Damage to credit and personal trust
• No legal recourse if the broker is offshore and unregulated

How to Protect Yourself

1. Remember: There Is No Such Thing as Fixed Profit in Trading

Markets are volatile and unpredictable. Any promise of guaranteed returns is a scam.

2. Use Only Regulated Brokers

Real brokers licensed by FCA, ASIC, CySEC, or CFTC:

• Never offer “guaranteed profits”
• Are required to disclose risk
• Allow full control over your trades and withdrawals

3. Demand Full Transparency

If a broker or “trader” avoids questions like:

• “Where are the trades executed?”
• “Can I see a verified Myfxbook account?”
• “Are you licensed to manage client funds?”

—it’s time to walk away.

4. Don’t Trust Screenshots or Testimonials

Fake trading apps often show:

• Inflated returns
• Faked withdrawal history
• Staged reviews or Instagram comments

Real performance is always audited and trackable.

5. Withdraw Early and Test

Try to:

• Withdraw partial funds early
• Avoid locking in capital for “bonus” or “compound” offers
  If a withdrawal is denied or delayed—get out immediately.

Learn What Real Trading Success Looks Like

Understanding how real traders earn money—through risk management, strategy, and discipline—is the best defence against scams. Traders MBA offers trading courses that teach you how to grow capital responsibly, without falling for too-good-to-be-true offers.

Conclusion

Fixed return fraud plays on hope and predictability—but offers only loss. No real trading platform can promise returns without risk. If the offer sounds perfect, it’s because it was built to deceive. Because in trading, the only thing fixed about profits is that they must be earned—not promised.