How to spot a forex EA scam: red flags before you buy

Guaranteed or fixed profit claims

No trading system can guarantee profit. Promises such as 'guaranteed monthly return' or 'zero losses' are the clearest warning sign. Honest sellers describe risk and show drawdown as well as gains.

Results you cannot verify

Screenshots and edited reports are easy to fake. Look for results on an independent tracking service that connects read-only to the account, and check that the history is long enough and covers real trades.

Missing basics

A serious seller publishes the essentials.

• A clear refund policy and terms of sale.
• A risk disclaimer and honest description of the strategy type.
• A real contact route and documented installation steps.
• Information about updates and what happens if your broker changes conditions.

Pressure and secrecy

Countdown timers, 'only 3 licences left' messages and refusal to explain how the strategy works are pressure tactics. A good seller lets you read the manual and ask questions first.

Protect yourself

Test on a demo account, start live with a small size, and never give anyone your trading password or send funds to an individual to trade for you. An EA needs only to be installed in your own terminal.