Is ADG Securities LLP a Scam?

ADG Securities LLP is a London-based investment firm that is part of the broader ADG Group, a diversified financial services business founded in 2006. Its official domain is adgcorporate.com, and the firm is registered in England & Wales under company number OC420189, with a founding date of 2017.

The firm holds authorisation from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under firm reference number 807897, and its status is listed as ‘Authorised’—the highest standing a regulated firm can have in the UK. That fact alone immediately distinguishes ADG Securities from the vast majority of unregulated or offshore brokers that pose a real danger to traders.

However, ADG Securities is not a retail forex or CFD broker in the traditional sense. The firm operates proprietary trading strategies and provides a platform for specialist trading teams. As we will discuss, this institutional focus has significant implications for the protections available to any individual who might consider engaging with the firm.

FXCanary assigns every broker a Scam Risk Score on a scale from 0 (extremely high risk) to 100 (exceptionally safe). ADG Securities scores 27/100, placing it in the ‘Guarded’ category. This score reflects a balanced but cautious view: the firm holds genuine FCA authorisation, but several factors prevent a higher rating.

The score is not an accusation of wrongdoing. Instead, it signals that while the firm is legitimate, it is not a retail-focused entity, and many of the typical safeguards retail traders rely on—such as negative balance protection or access to the Financial Ombudsman Service—may not apply. The lack of public user reviews also limits our ability to verify its operational conduct.

In our methodology, a ‘Guarded’ broker typically has a solid regulatory footing but limited transparency, unclear business model, or a mismatch with retail client expectations. ADG Securities fits this profile perfectly: it is safe by institutional standards, but retail traders must exercise significant caution.

The FCA is one of the world’s most respected financial regulators. Holding an ‘Authorised’ status means ADG Securities has met stringent capital, governance, and conduct requirements. The firm is supervised by the UK’s Prudential Regulation Authority and the FCA, and it must submit regular financial reports.

Crucially, the FCA’s Client Assets Sourcebook (CASS) rules require authorised firms to segregate client money from their own funds. If ADG Securities holds client money, it must be placed in client bank accounts with trust status, protecting it in the event of insolvency. However, as we explore later, ADG Securities may not hold retail client money in the way forex brokers do.

Additionally, the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) covers eligible claims up to £85,000 per person if a regulated firm fails. But FSCS protection only applies to certain types of business; if ADG Securities deals exclusively with professional clients or eligible counterparties, an individual retail customer might not be covered.

The standard retail protections—segregation, FSCS, negative balance protection, and access to the Financial Ombudsman Service—are often assumed to be universal with an FCA licence. In reality, these protections depend on the firm’s permissions and the client’s classification.

ADG Securities is classified as a ‘non-SNI’ MiFIDPRU investment firm, which implies it deals with professional clients and eligible counterparties. Its regulatory disclosures confirm that ADG Securities does not hold client money for retail clients; instead, it likely operates on a matched principal or proprietary basis. This means the firm’s clients are typically institutions or professional traders who do not enjoy the same retail protections.

If you are an individual trader, you should not expect your funds to be segregated under CASS or to be covered by the FSCS unless you have been explicitly classified as a retail client and the firm has confirmed that it holds client money for you. Always verify this directly with the firm and cross-check the FCA register’s ‘Permission’ section.

The UK has strict rules on negative balance protection for retail clients trading CFDs, but these rules apply only to firms offering such products. ADG Securities does not appear to offer CFDs or spot forex to retail traders; its website mentions ‘proprietary trading strategies’ and an institutional funding platform (ADG Verto).

Without a retail brokerage offering, there is no mandated negative balance protection. Institutional counterparties are assumed to have sufficient expertise and resources to manage their own risk. This means that if you somehow trade through ADG Securities as an individual, you could be exposed to unlimited losses.

Similarly, ESMA’s leverage caps on CFD products would not apply because ADG Securities is not a retail CFD provider. The absence of these safeguards is not a flaw in the firm’s integrity, but it is a critical factor for any retail trader who might be considering an engagement.

Clone firms are a persistent threat in the UK market. Scammers create fraudulent websites and communications that impersonate legitimate FCA-authorised firms, often using slight variations of the name or domain.

ADG Securities’ name is somewhat generic, and other entities within the ADG Group—such as ADG Capital Management or ADG Market Making—have similar branding. This could be exploited by fraudsters. The FCA regularly issues warnings about clone firms, but as of our review, we found no specific warning regarding ADG Securities.

To protect yourself, always verify the firm’s contact details against the FCA register. The genuine ADG Securities operates exclusively from the domain adgcorporate.com and the physical address at 5 Aldermanbury Square, London. Any unsolicited phone calls or emails claiming to be from the firm should be treated with extreme suspicion; call back using the number on the official website, not one provided in the communication.

Our research uncovered no independent user reviews for ADG Securities—neither positive nor negative. This is not unusual for an institutional firm that deals with a small number of professional counterparties. Unlike retail brokers that handle thousands of individual account holders, institutional firms rarely attract public commentary on review platforms.

However, the lack of reviews limits our ability to gauge the firm’s operational conduct, customer service, or dispute resolution practices. In the absence of public testimony, we must rely entirely on the firm’s regulatory standing and its own statements. While FCA authorisation provides a strong baseline, it does not guarantee that every client interaction will be smooth.

In FXCanary’s view, this silence is a double-edged sword: it may indicate that the firm operates without incident among a small, sophisticated client base, or it could mask hidden problems. For a retail trader, this uncertainty adds to the cautionary stance our score reflects.

If you are a professional or institutional client, your due diligence should include a thorough review of ADG Securities’ MIFIDPRU disclosures, which detail its risk management framework and capital adequacy. These documents are publicly available on its website and provide insight into the firm’s financial health.

For any individual considering an engagement, the first step is to check the FCA register directly at register.fca.org.uk. Enter the firm’s reference number (807897) and confirm that the contact details match exactly. Next, ask the firm to clarify your client classification in writing—retail, professional, or eligible counterparty—and what protections apply.

Never send funds to an account that is not specifically designated for client money if you expect CASS protection. If the firm resists providing this information, consider it a red flag. Finally, remember that institutional firms often require substantial minimum deposits and may offer no cooling-off period or negative balance protection.

In our editorial assessment, ADG Securities is a genuine FCA-regulated firm, not a scam. It belongs to a well-established group with a track record dating back to 2006, and its regulatory filings indicate a compliant and prudently managed operation.

That said, safety is context-dependent. For an institutional trader, ADG Securities likely represents an acceptable counterparty risk. For a retail trader, however, the firm’s lack of retail-specific protections, limited transparency, and absence of user reviews mean that it falls well short of the safety levels offered by dedicated retail brokers with full CASS and FSCS coverage.

FXCanary’s score of 27/100 reflects this nuance. It is a cautionary signal, not a condemnation. We advise retail traders to seek brokers with a clear retail offering and robust consumer safeguards, and to treat this firm’s FCA badge as a baseline—not a blanket guarantee of a safe trading experience.