Interactive Brokers Is Legit checklist

A broker's own website telling you it is regulated is a claim, not evidence. The reliable method is to note the exact legal entity name and registration number shown in the broker's legal documents, then look that entity up on the official register of the named regulator. Large brokers often operate multiple entities in different countries, each with its own regulator, and the protections you receive depend on which entity holds your account. Confirm that the entity that would serve your country is authorised for the specific activities you plan to use, such as holding client money and executing trades.

Legitimacy is not only about authorisation; it is also about how client assets are held. Read the broker's disclosures on client money segregation, and check whether your account would be covered by an investor compensation or protection scheme in your jurisdiction. Coverage limits, eligible products and eligible client types vary widely between countries, and some products may sit outside protection schemes entirely. Do not assume that a scheme covering one entity in a broker group covers accounts held with a different entity.

A common problem is not that an established broker is fraudulent, but that scammers impersonate well-known broker brands through cloned websites, fake apps and unsolicited messages. Type the broker's address yourself rather than following links from ads, messages or search results you have not checked, download apps only from official stores, and be suspicious of anyone contacting you claiming to represent the broker and asking you to move money. Regulators publish warnings about clone firms, and checking those warning lists is a worthwhile step. For fuller research on this broker, see the review at /reviews/interactive-brokers or browse other research at /reviews.