ForexRoasted investigations: 18 months of research, 47 providers tested and $23,500 of real capital risked to document how the industry works.

The Illusion of Alignment

The core paradox of retail Forex lies in the execution model. Most popular brokers act as "Market Makers" (B-Book). In this model, the broker does not pass your trade to the real market; they act as your counterparty. When you lose money, the broker earns it. This creates a fundamental conflict of interest.

To maximize profits, unethical companies utilize technical tools like artificial slippage, "stop-loss hunting," and spread widening during high volatility. A licence does not always prevent these practices. An offshore regulator often ignores them in exchange for an annual fee.

Why Signals are a Trap

91% of traders following "gurus" and signal providers lose their deposit within three months. We studied 47 providers. Their business model runs on affiliate kickbacks from brokers, not on the accuracy of their predictions.

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Why 95% of Prop Firms Are Just MLM Schemes

We analyzed 50 prop firms. Only 3 actually paid traders. The rest? Elaborate subscription models disguised as opportunities.

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How 'Regulated' Brokers Still Scam You Legally

Regulation isn't the safety guarantee you think. We expose the legal loopholes CySEC and other regulators allow, leading to hidden fees and manipulated spreads.

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5 Red Flags Every Scam Broker Has

Our 18-month study identified 5 core patterns that predict a scam with 94% accuracy. Offshore regulation, withdrawal delays, bonus traps and platform issues. Protect your capital.

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The Truth About Trading Signals

We spent $23,500 testing 47 signal providers. The numbers show why 91% of traders following signals lose money. Learn the real business model (and it isn't trading).

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Full Database: 26 Scam Brokers Exposed

Quick link to the full list of problematic brokers: IQ Option, IronFX, Olymp Trade, and more. Binary fraud, fake regulation, withdrawal refusals.

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Advanced Investigation Library

Offshore Brokers: Jurisdiction Risk

Entity-routing and legal-protection analysis for offshore account structures, payout control, and dispute pathways.

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Withdrawal Blocking Patterns

Operational markers that signal payout friction early: support rerouting, document loops, and timeline drift.

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Bonus Terms Trap

Clause-level mechanics behind turnover restrictions and bonus-linked withdrawal eligibility constraints.

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Affiliate Review Economics

How referral monetization influences ranking narratives, sponsored placement, and editorial scoring behavior.

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Recovery Scam Chain

Second-wave fraud sequences after deposit loss: fake recovery firms, legal impersonation, and staged fee loops.

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Platform Manipulation Patterns

Execution forensics of requotes, spread spikes, latency drift, and feed divergence.

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Prop Firm Challenge Math

Rule-density and path-dependency analysis for challenge structures and payout feasibility.

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Prop Firms MLM Schemes

Industry investigation of challenge-fee economics, payout conversion rates, collapse patterns, and affiliate incentive misalignment.

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FCA's Two-Tier Justice

Retail leverage is capped at 30:1. A cartel case against 11 professionals closed with a charity payment, no fine and no admission.

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Prediction Markets Casino

Event contracts at $50.6B monthly volume, 85%+ of it sports betting, with two federal insider trading prosecutions already active.

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Our Investigative Protocol

1. Live Capital Only

We never test brokers on demo accounts. Real order execution, withdrawal speeds, and terminal behavior during news events can only be verified with real money. For every review, we deposit between $1,000 and $10,000.

2. Withdrawal Stress Testing

The most critical moment is withdrawing profit. We specifically request withdrawals immediately after a winning streak. This is the best way to trigger a "risk review". Then watch whether the broker delays the process or invents excuses to block the account.

3. Legal Fine-Print Audit

We read the fine print in the Terms and Conditions. Loopholes often hide in clauses about "arbitrage," "bonus abuse," or "account inactivity." If a broker reserves the right to cancel profits without explanation, they go to our blacklist.

Regulation Hierarchy: Safe vs. Fake

Many traders believe the word "Regulated" automatically equals safety. This is a dangerous misconception. Regulation is divided into Tiers:

  • Tier 1 (FCA, ASIC, NFA):The highest level of protection. Mandatory segregation of client funds and compensation schemes (like FSCS). Price manipulation here can cost a broker their license.
  • Tier 2 (CySEC, BaFin):Medium protection. More freedom for brokers to offer high leverage and bonuses, but rules are still enforced. Bonus traps are more common here.
  • Tier 3 (Offshore):Vanuatu, Mauritius, Seychelles. Often just a "license on paper." Traders have almost no legal recourse if their deposit is stolen.

Knowledge is Your Only Protection

In an industry where marketing outweighs honesty, your caution determines the longevity of your capital. Do not trust payout screenshots or promises of high returns. Verify the license on the official regulator's website, read about withdrawal issues, and always start with a minimum deposit.

Disclaimer: Trading CFDs/FX involves significant risk. Over 80% of retail investor accounts lose money. Past performance does not guarantee future results.