WebVetted Beta
Recommendation
Caution
Overall Summary
Suspicious
Why we think so

PocketOption.com is an online binary options trading platform with around 4.6 million monthly visits, mostly from the United States. It supports many payment methods, including Apple Pay, Google Pay, and various e-wallets. The site uses GoDaddy for hosting and DNS and secures its domain with a valid SSL certificate issued by Sectigo. It ranks #12,071 globally and is categorized under finance and investing. The company has a physical location listed in Limassol, Cyprus, and provides official contact emails and social media channels. However, it lacks tier-1 regulatory approval and is flagged by major regulators: the UK FCA warns it's unauthorized in the UK, and the US CFTC lists it on its RED List for offering services to US customers without registration. User reviews are mixed, with praise for platform features but concerns about withdrawal difficulties and scam accusations. No widely reported lawsuits exist, though it is flagged as unauthorized or illegal in several jurisdictions. Overall, using PocketOption carries significant regulatory risk, especially for users in the US and UK. Exercise caution and consider regulatory status before engaging with this broker.

Confidence Score
53%

Risk Insights

⚠️

Regulatory Warnings Present

UK FCA explicitly warns against PocketOption.
US CFTC lists it on RED List for unregistered services.
No tier-1 regulation increases risk for users.
🛡️

Legitimate Technical Setup

Valid SSL certificate and secure hosting.
High monthly traffic and multiple payment integrations.
Public contact info and physical address provided.

Mixed User Experiences

Positive platform features and payout reports.
Complaints about withdrawal difficulty and scam accusations.
Reviews skewed by broker-hosted testimonials.

Contradictory Signals

The technical legitimacy contrasts regulatory risks and mixed user trust.

Signal A: Legitimate technical infrastructure and high traffic

Signal B: Serious regulatory warnings and lack of tier-1 regulation

Category Scores

Identity 60/100
Reputation 40/100
Technical 75/100
Content 50/100
Legal 25/100
Business Validity 55/100

Red Flags & Warnings

  • Listed as unauthorized firm by the UK FCA, warning consumers against dealing with PocketOption.
  • Included on the US CFTC RED List for offering services to US customers without registration.
  • No regulation by major financial authorities; uses IFMRRC which is not a top-tier regulator.
  • User complaints about withdrawal issues and scam-like behavior reported on multiple platforms.

🔎 Detailed Checks & Analysis

Verification of Regulatory Status

Score: 25/100
Failed

"This poses significant legal and financial risks to users."

Reason: PocketOption is not authorized by major financial regulators and is flagged by FCA and CFTC.

Domain and Technical Infrastructure

Score: 75/100
Passed

"Technical signals are consistent with legitimate operations."

Reason: Uses valid SSL, reputable hosting (GoDaddy), and standard DNS practices.

Online Reputation and User Feedback

Score: 40/100
Failed

"Independent sources raise concerns despite positive self-published reviews."

Reason: Mixed reviews with notable complaints about withdrawals and scam claims.

Business Validity and Contact Transparency

Score: 60/100
Passed

"Suggests some level of operational transparency."

Reason: Contact emails, social media, and physical address are publicly available.

Blacklist and Scam Detection

Score: 85/100
Passed

"No direct technical detection of scams, but regulatory flags remain critical."

Reason: Not listed on crypto scam blacklists or Google Safe Browsing blacklists.

Your Next Steps

  • 1
    Avoid using PocketOption if you are located in the US or UK, due to regulatory warnings and lack of protections.
  • 2
    If considering use elsewhere, start with small amounts and verify withdrawal processes early.
  • 3
    Check if PocketOption is authorized within your jurisdiction through local financial regulators before depositing funds.
  • 4
    Keep detailed records of all transactions and communications in case of disputes.
  • 5
    Consider safer, fully regulated brokers authorized by recognized financial authorities.

Evidence & Citations