Online Investment Scams: A growing threat to the UK


While Germany, France, and Poland emerge as the most vulnerable countries in the European Union, the UK's exposure to fraudulent entities also reveals deeply concerning trends that demand urgent attention.
Analysing Google search data, the study identifies 56 scam entities that generated significant search activity in the UK during the first half of 2024. Leading the list is Immediate Edge, which accounts for 14% of searches for scam entities in the UK. This fraudulent operation also ranks as the most-searched scam across Europe. Following closely is Anders FX, responsible for 11% of searches - a unique finding, as this scam does not appear in the EU-wide top rankings.
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Hide AdThe remaining fraudulent entities in the UK generate lower search volumes, resulting in a more even distribution overall. However, the UK's total search volume is on par with the individual totals of the five most affected EU countries, underscoring the UK investors’ exposure and vulnerability to online investment fraud.
“While the UK’s search volumes are lower than the EU as a whole, they rival those of Europe’s most affected nations. This highlights an urgent need for increased public awareness and robust fraud prevention measures,” said Tibor Bedő, founder and CEO of BrokerChooser. “This analysis is a wake-up call for regulators, platforms, and investors. The growing sophistication of these scams requires an equally sophisticated, coordinated response from the financial services industry.”
Key Findings and Scam Trends
The report’s authors carried out a detailed legal and operational review of these operators. By uncovering how these scams function, BrokerChooser turns the concept of "investment scams" into practical, actionable insights.
Immediate Edge’s Dominance
As the most-searched scam in both the UK and Europe, Immediate Edge demonstrates how fraudsters deceive investors at scale.Anders FX’s UK-Specific Impact: Anders FX ranks second in the UK but does not feature among the EU’s most-searched scams, pointing to its concentrated impact on British investors.
Smaller Entities Still a Risk
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Hide AdEntities like T4Trade and Quantum AI Trading, although representing smaller portions of search volume, highlight the breadth of fraudulent operations affecting the UK market.
How BrokerChooser Recommends Fighting Back
Search Engine Alerts: Partnering with platforms like Google to flag search results for known fraudulent entities, warning users before they engage.
Stronger Ad Monitoring
Using advanced tools to detect and dismantle scam advertising networks.
Rapid URL Shutdowns
Collaborating with hosting providers to suspend websites linked to scams.
Educational Campaigns
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Hide AdEquipping UK residents with knowledge to identify and avoid fraudulent schemes.
Beyond raising awareness, BrokerChooser offers a practical framework for regulators to identify, investigate, and mitigate the impact of these harmful actors. The study underscores that effectively preventing and combating investment scams requires coordinated action across key industry players.
BrokerChooser urges regulators, technology firms, financial institutions, and other stakeholders to align their resources and expertise to better identify, disrupt, and prevent fraudulent activities, ensuring a safer investment environment across the UK.
The report is endorsed by leading industry players, including FP Markets, Fusion Markets, Global Prime, Mexem, Pepperstone, Saxo, Skilling, Tickmill, and XTB, all of whom are committed to tackling investment fraud.
For more information about the study, please visit: https://brokerchooser.com/safe-investing