Is Interactive Brokers a Scam? Regulation Check 2026
We ran Interactive Brokers through the kitchen inspection, looking up its licence in the official FCA register. Here is what the paperwork says.
Verdict
Interactive Brokers is NOT a scam. It cooks under FCA licence 208159, which clears it to serve trading in Malta.
How to verify on the official register
| Regulator | FCA FCA Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) |
| Licence Number | 208159 |
| Regulated Entity | Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Ltd |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Listed | NASDAQ:IBKR, publicly audited |
What the FCA seal buys you
A FCA-regulated kitchen has to keep client money in its own segregated pot, offer negative balance protection, and open its books to independent audits. If something goes wrong, you can take your complaint straight to FCA.
What the FCA seal puts on your plate
- Your money kept in a segregated pot, walled off from Interactive Brokers's own capital
- Negative balance protection, so you can never lose more than you put on the table
- A direct line to FCA for complaints if Interactive Brokers will not put things right
- Regular independent audits of Interactive Brokers's books under FCA oversight
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Interactive Brokers a scam or legitimate?
Interactive Brokers is NOT a scam. It is authorised by FCA, one of the most respected inspectors in the business, and the authorisation is publicly verifiable on the official FCA register.
How do I check Interactive Brokers's FCA licence?
Open the official FCA website and use the public register search. Search the entity name; the entry will confirm Interactive Brokers's authorisation status and exactly what it is cleared to serve.
Are my funds safe with Interactive Brokers?
As a FCA-regulated kitchen, Interactive Brokers must keep every client's money in its own segregated pot, walled off from the firm's own funds. That shields your deposit even if Interactive Brokers runs into trouble.
What protection do I have as a Interactive Brokers client in Malta?
In Malta, Interactive Brokers sits under FCA supervision, so you get: segregated client money, negative balance protection (you can never lose more than is on the table), and the right to take a complaint straight to FCA.
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