marketstradeltd.com (clone of FCA authorised firm)

What Is This Scam?

marketstradeltd.com is a fraudulent website operating as an unauthorised clone of a legitimate, FCA-regulated financial services firm. The scam targets UK consumers by impersonating an authorised investment broker, deceiving victims into believing they are trading with a properly regulated entity. Fraudsters operating this scheme use deceptive domain names and contact email addresses designed to closely resemble those of the legitimate firm they are impersonating, making it difficult for consumers to distinguish between the real and fake operations.

The primary objective of this scam is to trick consumers into depositing money under the false pretence that they will receive professional investment or trading services. Once funds are transferred, victims typically lose access to their money entirely, as the fraudulent operators have no intention of providing legitimate services or returning deposits.

Who Are They Impersonating?

The scammers are impersonating CMC Markets UK plc, a legitimate and FCA-authorised financial services provider. Below are the verified details of the genuine company:

• Legitimate Company Name: CMC Markets UK plc
• FCA Firm Reference Number: 173730
• Registered Address: 133 Houndsditch, London, EC3A 7BX, United Kingdom
• Official Telephone: +4402071708200
• Official Email: [email protected]
• Official Website: www.cmcmarkets.com
• Regulatory Authority: Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

CMC Markets UK plc is a fully authorised and regulated investment firm. If you wish to verify their credentials independently, you can search the FCA Register at www.fca.org.uk.

Evidence & Regulatory Action

This scam has been formally identified and publicly warned against by major financial regulators. According to the FCA's official warning issued on 2 December 2024, marketstradeltd.com is not authorised or registered by the FCA but has been actively targeting people in the UK.

The scam has also been flagged by international regulatory bodies. The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) added marketstradeltd.com to its I-Scan alert system on 3 December 2024, classifying it as an unregistered and unlicensed entity offering financial products or services. Financial news outlets including FastBull have reported on this fraud, confirming that the fraudulent contact email [email protected] is being used to solicit victims.

Red Flags

• Website domain is marketstradeltd.com — deliberately similar to the legitimate CMC Markets domain but not identical
• Contact email address is [email protected] — closely mimics legitimate contact details but uses a different domain extension
• The firm is not listed on the FCA Register as an authorised entity
• Verification of the Firm Reference Number (173730) on the official FCA Register will show it belongs to CMC Markets UK plc, not to marketstradeltd.com
• Official warnings have been issued by the FCA and IOSCO against this specific website
• Pressure to deposit funds quickly without proper due diligence checks

What To Do If You Have Been Contacted

If you have received contact from this scam or visited the fraudulent website:

• Do not deposit any money or provide personal financial information
• Do not click on links or download files sent from the scam email address [email protected]
• Report the scam to the FCA by visiting www.fca.org.uk and using their consumer warning reporting tool
• Report the fraud to Action Fraud (the UK's national fraud reporting centre) at www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040
• If you have already sent money, contact your bank or payment provider immediately to report the transaction as fraudulent
• Verify any future contact from CMC Markets by calling their official telephone number +4402071708200 or visiting www.cmcmarkets.com directly
• Monitor your bank accounts and credit file for suspicious activity