Is AB TRADES a Scam?

At FXCanary, our safety assessments are built on a structured framework that weighs regulatory oversight, client fund protection, user-reported withdrawal reliability, and the broader operational footprint of a broker. We cross-check licensing claims against official public registers, analyse aggregated industry data, and review the real-world experiences of traders who have used the platform. This evidence-based approach allows us to assign a Scam Risk Score that reflects the actual risks a trader may face, rather than relying on marketing materials or unverified promises.

For AB Trades, our analysis has produced a Scam Risk Score of 75 out of 100, which we classify as 'Severe'. This score is not arbitrary; it is derived from a combination of factors including the absence of any verifiable regulatory licence, a pattern of user complaints centred on blocked withdrawals and demands for additional deposits, and a company profile that raises significant transparency concerns. In this article, we will walk through each of these elements in detail, explaining what they mean for a trader considering AB Trades and how they contribute to our overall risk stance.

The most critical factor in our assessment is regulation. AB Trades, operating under the legal name Alpha Star Marketing Management, is registered in the United Arab Emirates, but we found no verifiable licence from any financial regulator. Our cross-checks against public registers and aggregated industry databases returned zero licence records. This means that AB Trades is not authorised by a recognised body such as the UAE's Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), or any other major regulator.

Without a licence, traders are left without the protections that regulated brokers must provide. These include client fund segregation, where client money is held in separate accounts and cannot be used for the broker's operational expenses; compensation schemes, which offer a safety net if the broker becomes insolvent; and negative balance protection, which ensures traders cannot lose more than their deposited funds. In the case of AB Trades, none of these safeguards are in place, leaving clients exposed to significant financial risk. The company's registered address at Nassima Tower, Trade Center 1, Sheikh Zayed Road, Office 901, does little to mitigate these concerns, as a physical address alone does not confer regulatory oversight.

For a regulated broker, client fund protection is a cornerstone of trust. Segregation of client funds is a legal requirement in most reputable jurisdictions, ensuring that a broker cannot use client deposits to cover its own debts. Compensation schemes, such as the UK's Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), provide a further layer of protection, reimbursing eligible clients up to a certain limit if the broker fails. Negative balance protection is another key feature, preventing traders from owing more than their account balance in volatile market conditions.

AB Trades offers none of these protections. Our review found no evidence of client fund segregation, no participation in any compensation scheme, and no commitment to negative balance protection. This is a significant red flag, as it means that in the event of broker insolvency or misconduct, traders have no recourse to recover their funds. The absence of these safeguards is particularly concerning given the user reports of withdrawal difficulties, which we will examine in the next section.

The most concrete evidence of risk comes from the experiences of traders who have used AB Trades. Our analysis of user reviews found two withdrawal-related complaints, both of which describe serious problems. One trader reported, 'Total scam.

Had me deposit money, showed profit, but won't let me withdraw any money unless I deposit more. Don't trust these guys.' Another stated, 'Scam! Tell you to deposit into expressmarkets.net.

I put $300 then they tell you your account can't be activated unless you put a $1,000, try to withdraw my $300. Won't let me withdraw my own money unless my account is activated.'

These accounts paint a troubling picture of a platform that may be using withdrawal requests as a lever to extract additional deposits. The pattern described—where a trader is asked to deposit more money to 'activate' their account or to release funds—is a classic hallmark of a withdrawal scam. In our assessment, this is a severe red flag that directly undermines the reliability of the broker. While we note that these are individual reports, the consistency of the complaints, combined with the lack of regulatory oversight, strengthens our concern that AB Trades may not honour legitimate withdrawal requests.

Deposit-related complaints are closely tied to the withdrawal issues. Two user reviews specifically mention being asked to make additional deposits after their initial investment. One trader reported depositing $300 and then being told they needed to deposit $1,000 to activate their account. Another mentioned being pressured to pay for a 'trainer' for 1,000 AED before they could use the application. These tactics are designed to extract more money from traders under the guise of account activation or premium services.

This approach is a significant red flag because it is not a standard practice among legitimate brokers. Reputable platforms do not require additional deposits to release funds or to access basic account features. The fact that AB Trades appears to employ such tactics suggests a focus on extracting maximum deposits from clients rather than providing a genuine trading service. In our view, this constitutes a clear warning sign for any trader considering depositing funds with this broker.

While the negative reviews dominate, we also found one positive review that praised the broker's customer support and claimed to have made a profit. The reviewer wrote, 'Good Experience, Someone called me and she introduced the way how they work which is very different from the previous platform that I am working with. so far I made some good profit with the amount I start with, they helped and give good as...' This positive feedback, however, is in the minority and must be weighed against the broader pattern of complaints.

It is not uncommon for scam brokers to have a few positive reviews, often from individuals who may have been early beneficiaries or who have not yet attempted a withdrawal. The fact that the positive review does not mention a successful withdrawal is telling. In our assessment, the negative evidence—particularly around withdrawals and deposits—far outweighs the positive, and we would caution traders against interpreting a single positive review as a sign of legitimacy. The overall trust score for AB Trades is low, reflecting the severe risk we have identified.

Customer support is one area where AB Trades received positive feedback, with two reviews praising the service. One trader noted, 'Very good experience regarding their service,' while another mentioned that a representative 'helped and give good as...' This suggests that the broker may have responsive and helpful support staff, at least in the initial stages of engagement.

However, we must interpret this in context. A friendly and responsive support team can be a tool to build trust and encourage deposits, even in a fraudulent operation. The same review that praised the support also mentioned making a profit, but did not confirm a successful withdrawal. In our view, positive customer support does not mitigate the serious regulatory and withdrawal concerns. Traders should not be lulled into a false sense of security by courteous staff, especially when the underlying operational practices are questionable.

AB Trades claims to offer two trading platforms: WebTrader and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). MT5 is a well-known and widely used platform, which may give some traders a sense of familiarity and legitimacy. However, the platform itself is not an indicator of broker safety; many scam brokers use legitimate platforms to appear credible. Our review found no information on how spreads are calculated, how demo accounts work, or how funds are secured, which are critical details for any trader.

One user review specifically mentioned a representative named Shamil, who allegedly pressured them to pay for a 'trainer' before they could start using the application. This suggests that the platform may be used as a vehicle for upselling additional services, rather than providing a straightforward trading experience. In our assessment, the lack of transparency around platform operations, combined with the reported pressure tactics, adds to the overall risk profile of AB Trades.

Given the severe risk associated with AB Trades, our primary advice is to avoid depositing any funds with this broker. If you have already done so, we strongly recommend that you cease further deposits and attempt to withdraw any remaining balance immediately. Document all communications, including emails, chat logs, and transaction records, as these may be useful if you need to escalate a complaint to a financial ombudsman or law enforcement.

Before choosing a broker, always verify its regulatory status by checking the official register of the relevant financial authority. Look for clear information on client fund segregation, compensation schemes, and negative balance protection. Be wary of any broker that asks for additional deposits to 'activate' your account or release funds—this is a common scam tactic. Finally, read independent reviews and cross-reference them with aggregated industry data to get a balanced view of the broker's reputation. In the case of AB Trades, the evidence overwhelmingly points to a high risk of financial loss, and we urge traders to exercise extreme caution.