Is Interactive Brokers a Scam? Regulation Check 2026
We ran Interactive Brokers through the kitchen inspection, looking up its licence in the official FINRA register. Here is what the paperwork says.
Verdict
Interactive Brokers is NOT a scam. It cooks under FINRA licence 0258597, which clears it to serve trading in United States.
How to verify on the official register
| Regulator | FINRA FINRA |
| Licence Number | 0258597 |
| Regulated Entity | Interactive Brokers LLC |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Listed | NASDAQ:IBKR, publicly audited |
What the FINRA seal buys you
A FINRA-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 FINRA.
What the FINRA 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 FINRA for complaints if Interactive Brokers will not put things right
- Regular independent audits of Interactive Brokers's books under FINRA oversight
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Interactive Brokers a scam or legitimate?
Interactive Brokers is NOT a scam. It is authorised by FINRA, one of the most respected inspectors in the business, and the authorisation is publicly verifiable on the official FINRA register.
How do I check Interactive Brokers's FINRA licence?
Open the official FINRA 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 FINRA-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 United States?
In United States, Interactive Brokers sits under FINRA 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 FINRA.
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