Is IVT Markets a Scam?

At FXCanary, our safety assessments are built on a structured, evidence-led framework. We do not rely on a broker's marketing materials or a handful of glowing testimonials. Instead, we cross-check regulatory licences against official public registers, analyse aggregated industry data, and weigh real user reviews for concrete patterns of behaviour — especially around withdrawals and fund security.

For IVT Markets, our analysis produced a Scam Risk Score of 75/100, which we classify as 'Severe'. This score is not pulled from thin air; it is the product of several weighted factors, including the absence of any verified regulatory licence, a very thin track record (the firm was founded on 2 September 2024), and user complaints that allege unauthorised fund removal and account deletion. Each of these elements contributes to a risk profile that we consider unacceptable for most retail traders.

We also factor in the broker's own disclosures. IVT Markets lists a registered address in Dubai and claims to operate from the United Kingdom, but we found no licence on file with any major financial regulator. This combination — a young, unregulated broker with a high-risk score — is a pattern we have seen repeatedly in the forex industry, and it rarely ends well for depositors.

The single most important finding in our review is that IVT Markets holds no verified regulatory licence. Our checks against public registers found zero licences on file. This means the broker is not authorised by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), nor by any other Tier-1 regulator such as the US CFTC, the Australian ASIC, or the German BaFin. It is also not regulated by a Tier-2 authority like CySEC or the FSCA.

Without a licence, the broker is not subject to the client-fund protection regimes that regulated brokers must follow. There is no requirement to segregate client funds in a separate bank account, no obligation to participate in a compensation scheme (such as the UK's Financial Services Compensation Scheme, which covers up to £85,000 per person), and no enforced negative-balance protection. If the broker fails or disappears, traders have no safety net.

The only regulatory reference we found is the registered address in Dubai, which sits in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) area. However, a physical address is not the same as a licence. The DIFC has its own regulator, the DFSA, but we found no evidence that IVT Markets is authorised by it. In our assessment, the lack of any credible oversight is a major red flag that elevates the risk of this broker to 'Severe'.

For a regulated broker, client funds are typically held in segregated accounts, meaning they are kept separate from the broker's own operating funds. This protects traders if the broker goes bankrupt. Regulated brokers are also often required to participate in compensation schemes that reimburse clients up to a certain limit. For example, in the UK, the FSCS covers up to £85,000, and in Cyprus, the ICF covers up to €20,000.

IVT Markets, being unregulated, offers none of these protections. There is no evidence that client funds are segregated, and no compensation scheme would step in to recover losses. Furthermore, negative-balance protection — which ensures that traders cannot lose more than their deposit — is not guaranteed. In volatile markets, this could lead to traders owing money to the broker, a scenario that is virtually impossible with a well-regulated broker.

We also note that the broker's registered address is in Dubai, which is outside the UK's regulatory jurisdiction. Even if the broker were to be regulated in the future, the current lack of oversight means that traders are entirely reliant on the broker's goodwill. Given the user complaints we have seen, that is a fragile foundation.

Withdrawal reliability is the lifeblood of any forex broker, and our analysis of user reviews for IVT Markets reveals a stark contrast. On one hand, a 5-star review praises the broker for 'fast withdrawal' and 'good deposit view'. On the other hand, a 1-star review alleges a far more serious problem: 'they are scammers they just withdraw my funds by their own and delete my trading account by them self.'

We treat these reviews with caution, as online reviews can be manipulated. However, the negative review describes a specific, concrete situation: the broker allegedly removed funds from the trader's account without authorisation and then deleted the account entirely. This is not a vague complaint about slow processing; it is an accusation of outright theft. When we see such allegations, especially in the absence of any regulatory oversight, we must take them seriously.

The positive review, while encouraging, is a single data point. In our experience, a handful of positive reviews can be generated by the broker itself or by affiliates. The negative review, by contrast, aligns with the broader risk profile we have identified. In our assessment, the withdrawal evidence is a major red flag that significantly contributes to the 75/100 Scam Risk Score.

IVT Markets offers two account types, both of which require substantial minimum deposits. The Standard account requires a minimum deposit of $1,000, while the ECN Pro account requires a hefty $10,000. These are not small sums for most retail traders, and they raise the stakes considerably. If the broker is unreliable, traders stand to lose a significant amount of money.

The broker does not disclose its deposit methods, which is another transparency issue. We found no information on whether traders can use credit cards, bank transfers, e-wallets, or cryptocurrencies. This lack of disclosure makes it difficult for traders to assess the convenience or security of funding their accounts.

More concerning is the fact that the broker's own marketing claims 'good deposit view', but the negative review alleges that the broker 'withdraw my funds by their own'. If a broker can move funds out of a client's account without authorisation, then the deposit process itself becomes a risk. In our view, the high minimum deposits, combined with the lack of regulatory protection and the withdrawal allegations, create a dangerous combination for traders.

Customer support is often the first line of defence when things go wrong, but IVT Markets appears to fall short. The positive review mentions 'various trading quality' and 'fast withdrawal', but does not specifically praise customer support. The negative review, however, is damning: 'they have no chat support to talk to anybody.'

If a trader cannot reach a support representative, they have no way to resolve disputes, ask questions, or escalate issues. This is especially problematic when a withdrawal is delayed or an account is frozen. In the forex industry, a lack of responsive customer support is a common trait among scam brokers, as it allows them to avoid accountability.

We also note that the broker's registered address in Dubai is a single location, and with zero employees listed, it is unclear who would even staff a support team. While we cannot verify the employee count, the absence of any contact details beyond the address is a red flag. In our assessment, the customer support situation is a significant contributor to the overall risk score.

The term 'scam' is not one we use lightly, but the evidence in this case is troubling. The negative review explicitly labels IVT Markets as 'scammers', and the alleged behaviour — unauthorised fund removal and account deletion — is consistent with that label. While we cannot independently verify the reviewer's claims, the lack of regulation and the broker's short operating history make such allegations more plausible.

We also checked for clone or impersonator sites, and found none. This means that the broker is not a clone of a legitimate firm, but rather an independent entity. While this eliminates one risk, it does not mitigate the others. In fact, a standalone unregulated broker with no track record is arguably more dangerous, as there is no established reputation to protect.

Our Scam Risk Score of 75/100 reflects these concerns. It is not a definitive proof of fraud, but it is a clear warning that traders should exercise extreme caution. In our view, the risk of losing funds is unacceptably high.

No broker is entirely without merit, and we aim to present a balanced view. The green flags for IVT Markets are few but worth noting. The broker offers competitive-looking trading conditions, such as spreads from 0.0 pips on the ECN Pro account and leverage up to 1:500. The range of instruments — Forex, Metals, Indices, and Energy — is reasonable for a retail broker. One positive review also mentions 'fast withdrawal', which, if true, is a positive sign.

However, the red flags are far more numerous and serious. The absence of any regulatory licence is the most critical issue. The high minimum deposits, especially the $10,000 ECN Pro account, are a barrier to entry that could amplify losses. The negative review alleging unauthorised fund removal and account deletion is a severe red flag. The lack of disclosed deposit and withdrawal methods, and the absence of responsive customer support, further compound the risk.

When we weigh these factors, the red flags overwhelmingly outweigh the green. In our assessment, the potential benefits of trading with IVT Markets are not worth the substantial risk of losing one's entire deposit.

If you are still considering IVT Markets despite the risks, we strongly urge you to take protective measures. First, never deposit more than you can afford to lose. Given the high minimum deposits, this is a significant commitment, and you should treat it as a high-risk venture. Second, consider using a separate bank account or payment method for forex trading, so that a potential loss does not affect your main finances.

Third, test the broker with a small withdrawal request before depositing larger sums. If the broker delays or refuses the withdrawal, that is a clear warning sign. Fourth, keep detailed records of all communications and transactions, as these may be needed if you decide to file a complaint with a financial ombudsman or law enforcement.

Finally, we recommend that you only trade with fully regulated brokers. The extra layer of protection provided by a regulator is invaluable. If you are looking for a broker with a solid track record, we have reviewed many regulated options on our site. In our view, the risks associated with IVT Markets are simply too high for most traders, and we cannot recommend it.