Below is a comprehensive analysis of InvestiGram (official website: https://investigram.com/) based on online complaint information, risk level assessment, website security, WHOIS lookup, IP and hosting analysis, social media presence, red flags, regulatory status, user precautions, and potential brand confusion. The analysis incorporates publicly available information, including insights from the provided search results, and critically evaluates the broker’s credibility and risks.
Online complaints and user reviews provide insight into InvestiGram’s reputation and operational issues. Key findings include:
Trustpilot Reviews: InvestiGram has 83 reviews on Trustpilot, with mixed feedback. Some users praise the broker for “superb service” and “highly recommended” experiences, but others report serious issues, such as a user whose review was removed after raising concerns about account access and funds. This user claimed harassment from InvestiGram staff after mistakenly opening an account due to brand confusion with “Investagrams.”
WikiFX Complaints: WikiFX reports negative user experiences, including harassment by InvestiGram staff via repeated phone calls after a user declined to deposit funds. This suggests aggressive marketing tactics, a common red flag for unregulated brokers.
Forex-Ratings.com: Some reviews from 2020–2021 are positive, citing good profits, helpful services, and no withdrawal issues. However, these reviews are dated and may not reflect current operations. Negative reviews mention slow email responses and high commissions.
Traders Union: Recent reviews (December 2024) highlight withdrawal difficulties, high commissions, and aggressive marketing, undermining the broker’s credibility.
General Sentiment: Complaints focus on withdrawal delays, unexpected fees, aggressive sales tactics, and difficulties accessing funds. Positive reviews exist but are often vague or outdated, raising concerns about their authenticity.
Risk Indicator: The presence of complaints about withdrawal issues and aggressive marketing, coupled with mixed reviews, suggests a moderate to high risk of poor customer experience or potential scam tactics.
A risk level assessment evaluates InvestiGram’s operational transparency, reliability, and user safety based on available data:
Regulatory Status: InvestiGram is not regulated by any top-tier financial authority (e.g., FCA, ASIC, SEC). It is registered in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), an offshore jurisdiction with no forex regulatory oversight. The SVG Financial Services Authority explicitly states it does not regulate forex brokers.
Transparency: Information about management, ownership, and trading conditions (e.g., spreads, commissions) is limited or unclear. The lack of transparency is a significant risk factor.
User Feedback: Negative reviews citing withdrawal issues and high-risk leverage (up to 1:400) increase the risk profile. High leverage can lead to substantial losses, especially for retail traders.
Operational Stability: The website is currently inaccessible, which may indicate technical issues, domain relocation, or a potential exit scam. This instability heightens risk.
ScamAdviser Rating: InvestiGram has a trust score of 76/100, suggesting medium to low risk. However, ScamAdviser advises manual verification due to potential scam indicators, such as offshore registration and lack of regulation.Risk Level: High. The lack of regulation, negative user feedback, inaccessible website, and offshore registration make InvestiGram a risky choice for traders.
Website security is critical for protecting user data and ensuring a broker’s legitimacy. An analysis of InvestiGram’s website security includes:
SSL/TLS Encryption: When the website was accessible, it used HTTPS, indicating SSL/TLS encryption for data transmission. This is a standard security feature but does not guarantee legitimacy.
Privacy Policy and Terms: InvestiGram claims to provide clear legal documents on its website, but the Terms of Service have been criticized for suspicious details, such as requiring excessive personal information (e.g., credit card scans without clear instructions to obscure sensitive details).
Website Accessibility: As of the latest reports (2024), the website is inaccessible, which could indicate technical issues, domain changes, or intentional shutdown. This is a major red flag for security and reliability.
Security Vulnerabilities: No specific reports of data breaches or hacking incidents were found, but the lack of regulatory oversight and offshore operation increases the risk of inadequate cybersecurity measures.
Risk Indicator: The inaccessible website and questionable data collection practices (e.g., requesting full credit card scans) suggest poor security practices and high risk to user data.
A WHOIS lookup provides details about the domain’s registration and ownership:
Domain: investigram.com
Registrar: NameSilo, LLC
Creation Date: August 22, 2013
Expiration Date: August 22, 2023 (expired, as per the latest WHOIS data)
Registrant: Domain Administrator, via PrivacyGuardian.org (Phoenix, AZ, USA)
Contact: Email (@privacyguardian.org) and phone (+1.3478717726) are provided, but the use of a privacy service obscures the true owner’s identity.
Status: clientTransferProhibited (locked to prevent unauthorized transfers)
Analysis: The domain’s expiration in August 2023 aligns with the website’s current inaccessibility, suggesting it may no longer be operational or has moved to a new domain (e.g., investigrams.net, as noted in some reviews). The use of a privacy service is common but can be a red flag for brokers lacking transparency. The long registration history (since 2013) suggests some operational continuity, but the expired domain raises concerns about legitimacy.Risk Indicator: Moderate to high. The expired domain and obscured ownership increase the risk of dealing with an untrustworthy entity.
IP and hosting details provide insight into the website’s infrastructure and potential vulnerabilities:
Hosting Provider: Unknown, as the website is currently inaccessible. Previous analyses suggest it was hosted on standard shared hosting, which is less secure than dedicated servers used by reputable brokers.
IP Address: Not available due to the website’s downtime. Historical data from ScamAdviser indicates no immediate red flags related to IP blacklisting, but this cannot be verified currently.
Geolocation: The company claims to be based in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, but hosting details are unclear. Offshore hosting can be used to evade regulatory scrutiny.
Analysis: The lack of current hosting information due to the website’s inaccessibility is a significant concern. Reputable brokers typically use secure, transparent hosting with clear server locations. The reliance on offshore infrastructure aligns with InvestiGram’s unregulated status.
Risk Indicator: High. The inability to verify hosting details and the offshore connection suggest potential risks to data security and operational reliability.
Social media can indicate a broker’s engagement and legitimacy, but it can also be a platform for scams:
Presence: No verified social media accounts for InvestiGram were identified in the provided data or recent analyses. The lack of official profiles on platforms like Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn is unusual for a broker claiming to operate in 80+ countries.
Red Flags: The absence of social media presence may indicate a lack of transparency or an attempt to avoid scrutiny. Scammers often avoid social media to limit exposure or use fake accounts to promote fraudulent schemes.
Brand Confusion: A user reported mistaking InvestiGram for “Investagrams” (a legitimate platform with a LinkedIn presence and 4,140 followers). This suggests InvestiGram may exploit similar branding to deceive users.Risk Indicator: High. The lack of social media presence and potential brand confusion with Investagrams increase the risk of deception.
Several red flags and risk indicators emerge from the analysis:
Unregulated Status: No oversight from top-tier regulators, with registration in SVG, a known haven for shady brokers.
Inaccessible Website: The website’s downtime suggests instability or a potential exit scam.
Aggressive Marketing: Complaints about harassing phone calls and pressure to deposit funds indicate unethical practices.
Withdrawal Issues: Multiple reports of delays, unexpected fees, or inability to withdraw funds.
High Leverage: Offering up to 1:400 leverage is risky for retail traders and often used by unregulated brokers to attract inexperienced users.
Lack of Transparency: Unclear information about spreads, commissions, and management.
Excessive Verification Demands: Requiring sensitive documents like full credit card scans without clear security protocols.
Brand Confusion: Similarity to “Investagrams” may be intentional to mislead users.
CONSOB Warning: Italy’s CONSOB issued an alert about InvestiGram, indicating compliance issues or disputes.Risk Indicator: High. These red flags collectively suggest InvestiGram is a high-risk broker with potential scam characteristics.
When the website was accessible, its content provided some insights:
Claims: InvestiGram advertised trading in forex, cryptocurrencies, stocks, and commodities, with ECN execution, low rates, and leverage up to 1:400. It offered MetaTrader 5 (MT5) and mobile apps for Android/iOS.
Account Types: Six account types, with minimum deposits from $250 (Student) to $5,000. The low entry point targets beginners, a common tactic for unregulated brokers.
Payment Methods: Limited to credit/debit cards and wire transfers, with no support for e-wallets like PayPal. Credit card payments allow chargebacks, but wire transfers are riskier.
Customer Support: Claimed 24/7 live chat powered by LiveChat Software, with email and phone support. However, complaints about slow responses undermine these claims.
Legal Documents: Terms of Service were available but criticized for suspicious clauses and excessive data demands.Analysis: The website’s professional appearance and MT5 offering may create an illusion of legitimacy, but the lack of transparency, limited payment options, and inaccessible status overshadow these positives.
Risk Indicator: High. The content aligns with tactics used by unregulated brokers to attract users while obscuring risks.
InvestiGram’s regulatory status is a critical factor in assessing its legitimacy:
No Regulation: InvestiGram is not licensed by any top-tier regulator (e.g., FCA, ASIC, CySEC). It operates under Investigram Ltd., registered in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which offers no forex regulatory oversight.
CONSOB Alert: Italy’s CONSOB flagged InvestiGram for compliance issues, a serious warning from a reputable regulator.
Offshore Risks: SVG-based brokers are often unregulated, allowing them to set their own rules, which poses risks to investors’ funds.
Segregation of Funds: Claims of segregating client funds are unverified due to the lack of regulatory oversight.Risk Indicator: High. The absence of regulation and a regulatory warning from CONSOB indicate significant risks to investor safety.
To mitigate risks when considering InvestiGram or similar brokers, users should:
Verify Regulation: Only trade with brokers regulated by top-tier authorities (e.g., FCA, ASIC, SEC). Check regulatory status on official websites like FINRA’s BrokerCheck or the SEC’s IAPD.
Avoid Unregulated Brokers: Unregulated brokers like InvestiGram pose high risks due to lack of oversight and limited legal recourse.
Use Chargeback-Friendly Payments: Prefer credit/debit cards over wire transfers for deposits, as cards allow chargebacks within 540 days if scammed.
Research Reviews: Cross-check reviews on multiple platforms (e.g., Trustpilot, WikiFX) and prioritize recent, detailed feedback over vague positives.
Test Withdrawals: Deposit a small amount and attempt a withdrawal to verify the process before committing significant funds.
Secure Personal Data: Avoid sharing sensitive information (e.g., full credit card details) unless the broker’s security protocols are clear and verified.
Beware of High Leverage: Avoid brokers offering excessively high leverage (e.g., 1:400), as it increases the risk of significant losses.
Report Issues: If scammed, report to local authorities, regulators (e.g., SEC, FINRA), or platforms like WikiFX (report@wikifx.com).
Check Domain Status: Verify the website’s accessibility and domain registration to ensure it’s active and legitimate.
InvestiGram’s similarity to “Investagrams” is a notable concern:
Investagrams: A legitimate platform for real-time market data and trading tools, with a strong social media presence (e.g., 4,140 LinkedIn followers) and partnerships with entities like Security Bank.
Confusion Case: A user reported mistaking InvestiGram for Investagrams, leading to an account opening and subsequent harassment. This suggests InvestiGram may exploit the similar name to deceive users.
Tactics: Scammers often use names resembling reputable brands to lure victims, a tactic known as “clone firm scams.”
Domain Similarity: InvestiGram’s domain (investigram.com) is close to Investagrams’ branding, increasing the risk of confusion.
Risk Indicator: High. The potential for brand confusion with Investagrams is a deliberate tactic that heightens the risk of fraud.
InvestiGram presents significant risks based on the following:
High-Risk Profile: Unregulated status, offshore registration, inaccessible website, and CONSOB warning indicate a high likelihood of scam or unethical practices.
User Complaints: Issues with withdrawals, aggressive marketing, and harassment undermine credibility.
Lack of Transparency: Limited information about management, trading conditions, and ownership raises concerns.
Brand Confusion: Similarity to Investagrams may be intentional to mislead users.
Security Concerns: Expired domain, questionable data collection, and lack of verified hosting details suggest poor security.
Recommendation: Avoid trading with InvestiGram due to its high-risk profile and lack of regulatory oversight. Instead, choose brokers regulated by top-tier authorities (e.g., FCA, ASIC, CySEC) with transparent operations and positive, recent user reviews. If you’ve already engaged with InvestiGram and face issues, stop depositing funds, attempt chargebacks (if paid by card), and report to authorities or platforms like WikiFX.
Safer Alternatives:
Regulated Brokers: Consider brokers like XTB, Plus500, or eToro, which are regulated and have positive reputations.
Verification Tools: Use FINRA’s BrokerCheck or the SEC’s IAPD to verify a broker’s status.
Due Diligence: Always conduct thorough research, test withdrawals, and prioritize brokers with segregated accounts and clear terms.
If you need assistance finding a regulated broker or further analysis, let me know!
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