iTrader / tradeATF / ET Finance / 24option / Investous
Known domains/brands: itrader.com, tradeATF.com, ETfinance.eu, etfinance.com, 24option.com, investous.com/eu, europrime.com/eu (historic register entries)
The Proofmark · Our methodology
Verified by the Proofmark team · how we verify
Checked by The Proofmark editorial team against our methodology before publishing
How we checked this case: Based on the FCA action of 1 June 2020 and the linked CySEC records checked on 16 October 2026. Historical domains do not establish their current owners. An order to return funds is not proof that all customers were repaid.
A trading site shows a real licence. Beside it sits an advert with a famous face. You check the number. It exists.
That checks one claim. It does not check them all.
This report covers FCA action in June 2020, not a new ban in 2026. The firms had Cyprus licences. The case shows why a real licence does not settle whether an advert is honest.
Which firms and brands did the FCA name?
The FCA's release names four firms and their trading brands:
| Legal firm | Brands named by the FCA |
|---|---|
| Hoch Capital Ltd | iTrader, tradeATF |
| Magnum FX (Cyprus) Ltd | ET Finance |
| Rodeler Ltd | 24option |
| F1Markets Ltd | Investous, StrattonMarkets, Europrime |
These are not all one company. Match the legal firm on your own papers. A similar name or a reused domain does not prove who is taking payments today.
What did the FCA do in 2020?
On 1 June 2020, the UK watchdog announced action to stop the four firms selling CFDs to UK customers. CFDs are contracts that let you bet on a price move without owning the asset.
The FCA described false claims of celebrity backing. It also noted pressure to pay more and problems getting money back. Some UK customers lost over £100,000 each, it said. That is not a global total.
The orders required them to stop UK sales. They had to close UK positions and return customers' money. They also had to tell those customers. That order is not proof that everyone was paid back.
Cyprus also acted on the licences. The FCA release records full suspension for Hoch Capital and Rodeler. For the other two, it was partial.
Do those firms still hold the Cyprus licences?
We checked the CySEC records. All four carry the status “Voluntary Renunciation”:
| Firm | Licence number | Recorded status |
|---|---|---|
| Hoch Capital Ltd | 198/13 | Voluntary Renunciation |
| Magnum FX (Cyprus) Ltd | 359/18 | Voluntary Renunciation |
| Rodeler Ltd | 207/13 | Voluntary Renunciation |
| F1Markets Ltd | 267/15 | Voluntary Renunciation |
That means the licence was given up. Do not turn that wording into a claim that each licence was revoked as a punishment.
CySEC also lists the web addresses approved at the time. They include itrader.com, tradeATF.com, ETfinance.eu, etfinance.com, 24option.com, investous.com/eu and europrime.com/eu.
A historic domain entry does not establish who runs that address now. Before you pay, check the current firm, its permissions and the place where you live.
Does this prove every offer under these names is a scam?
No. The sources name specific firms. This report is about their conduct. It does not cover every new offer that uses a similar name.
It also does not prove that the 2020 adverts used AI. A false celebrity endorsement can be made without a deepfake video.
The lesson for your next check is simple: check both the business and the advert. A valid number does not make every claim beside it true.
What if I paid one of these brands?
Find the agreement or account statement that names your legal firm. Write down the full website address, payment dates and method. Keep any complaint replies.
Ask your bank or payment provider which options remain. Deadlines and remedies differ. The age of this FCA action does not answer what applies to your own payment.
Need help reading the records? Request a free call. We can talk through them with you. We will explain the next checks. We cannot promise a refund. Cover from a compensation scheme depends on its rules.
What if someone offers to recover the money for a fee?
Check that new offer on its own. Knowing your old broker's name does not prove that a caller is genuine.
Be wary of a guaranteed refund, pressure to pay or a new fee to unlock funds. Our recovery scam guide explains what to check.
How can I check a new broker or advert?
Start with our broker licence checklist. It covers the firm, the service and the contact details.
Next, check the claimed backing. Go to the person's own channels. Or ask the news outlet. Read our fake celebrity advert guide. For examples from Australia, see the ASIC warning.
What does the evidence not tell us?
We do not know how each case ended. We do not know the total paid back. Nor do we know who now owns each old web address. A shared name does not prove a shared owner.
The linked records establish the 2020 action and the licence entries described above. They do not replace a check of your own account and payment.
Sources
Check this yourself, where you live
Do not take our word for it. Choose your country to find local registers and places to ask for help. What they can do depends on where you live and how you paid.
Choose your country to see local contacts. If it is not listed, you can ask our team for help.
🇬🇧 The United Kingdom
🔎 Check the firm
FCA Firm Checker — Search the firm name, its website, or the reference number it gave you.
🚨 Report it
Report Fraud (City of London Police) — Report online or call 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101.
↩ Ask for your money back
Financial Ombudsman Service — Complain to the firm first, then bring it here. Free, and it can order the firm to pay.
Every address above was opened and checked by us on 30 September 2026. Tell us if one has moved.
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