AI risk analysis - HybridReserve (2025-04-29 17:35:34)

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Below is a comprehensive analysis of the broker associated with SingleBell LTD, operating under the website https://www.hybridreserve.com/, based on the provided criteria. The analysis draws from available information, including online complaints, regulatory status, website security, and other relevant factors, while critically evaluating the data to assess the broker’s legitimacy and risks.

1. Online Complaint Information

Findings:

  • Trustpilot Reviews: Multiple Trustpilot pages (global, UK, Australia, Canada) report 38 customer reviews with overwhelmingly negative feedback, describing HybridReserve as a scam. Customers report significant financial losses, ranging from $2,000 to $15,000 USD, with common complaints including:
  • Inability to withdraw funds after initial deposits.
  • Requests for additional fees or sensitive personal information (e.g., passports, bank account details) to process withdrawals, which were never honored.
  • Unauthorized trading on accounts, leading to losses without user consent.
  • Disappearance of the company after funds were deposited, with accounts becoming inaccessible.
  • Examples:
  • One user lost $10,000 and an additional $3,000 after granting remote access to their computer for “trial deposits” that were actually withdrawals.
  • Another user reported losing $15,000 USD after being unable to withdraw funds, with staff members “Nathan Oliver” and “Andrew Barnes” (potentially fake names) involved.
  • Sitejabber: Two reviews give HybridReserve a 2-star rating, with users labeling it a scam and reporting difficulties recovering funds. One user mentioned hiring a private recovery firm to retrieve part of their funds.
  • Reviews.io: A user reported losing 50% of their investment due to fluctuating charts and ineffective stop-loss mechanisms, with withdrawal requests delayed by unnecessary document demands.
  • Forex Peace Army and Other Forums: Limited reviews, but consistent with scam allegations, including lack of transparency and unlicensed operations.
  • Recovery Claims: Several reviews mention third-party recovery services (e.g., “Cindy,” “TheresachinRecovery,” “Global Trade Recovery”) claiming to recover funds, but these services themselves raise concerns about legitimacy due to unverified contact details and generic email addresses (e.g., Gmail). Analysis: The volume and consistency of complaints across platforms indicate a pattern of fraudulent behavior, including refusal to process withdrawals, unauthorized account activity, and potential identity theft through requests for sensitive documents. The mention of recovery services with questionable credibility further suggests a scam ecosystem targeting victims. These complaints are a strong red flag, pointing to high risk.

2. Risk Level Assessment

Risk Level: High Factors:

  • Unregulated Status: HybridReserve is not licensed by any reputable financial regulator (e.g., FCA, ASIC, CySEC), operating under SingleBell LTD in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and SingleBell OU in Estonia, both jurisdictions with lax oversight.
  • Financial Losses: User reports of losses ranging from $250 to $15,000 USD, with no recourse due to lack of regulatory protection.
  • Withdrawal Issues: Consistent reports of denied or delayed withdrawals, often accompanied by demands for additional fees or documents.
  • Disappearance of Operations: The website is reported as non-functional or suspended, and the company has ceased communication with users, indicating potential abandonment after collecting funds.
  • Scam Warnings: Regulatory bodies (ASIC, FMA, CNMV, FSMA) issued warnings in 2019 against HybridReserve for unauthorized operations. Analysis: The combination of unlicensed operations, significant user losses, withdrawal barriers, and regulatory warnings places HybridReserve in the high-risk category. The reported closure of the website further suggests it may have been a pump-and-dump scam, where funds were collected before the operation vanished.

3. Website Security Tools

Findings:

  • SSL Certificate: Trust Mamma notes that hybridreserve.com uses an SSL certificate, which is standard for secure data transmission. However, this alone does not guarantee legitimacy, as many scam sites use SSL to appear trustworthy.
  • Website Status: As of 2021, BrokersView reported that the domain http://www.hybridreserve.com was not working, likely suspended, which is a significant red flag for a supposed financial service provider.
  • Security Vulnerabilities: No specific data on vulnerabilities (e.g., outdated software, malware) is available, but the site’s reported inaccessibility suggests it was either abandoned or taken down due to regulatory action or hosting issues. Analysis: While the presence of an SSL certificate is a basic security measure, the website’s reported suspension or inaccessibility is highly concerning. Legitimate brokers maintain active, secure websites with robust infrastructure. The lack of transparency about security practices and the site’s non-functional status indicate poor reliability and potential fraud.

4. WHOIS Lookup

Findings:

  • Domain Registrant: The domain hybridreserve.com is registered under WhoisGuard, Inc., a privacy protection service that hides the true owner’s identity.
  • Registration Date: The domain was registered in 2018, despite claims on the website of operating since 2013, which is a discrepancy suggesting fabricated history.
  • Location: The broker claims to be operated by SingleBell LTD in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and SingleBell OU in Estonia. Both are offshore jurisdictions with minimal regulatory oversight. Analysis: The use of WhoisGuard to conceal ownership is a common tactic among scam brokers to avoid accountability. The discrepancy between the claimed operational history (2013) and domain registration (2018) undermines credibility. Offshore registration in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Estonia further increases risk, as these jurisdictions offer little investor protection.

5. IP and Hosting Analysis

Findings:

  • Hosting Information: No specific IP or hosting provider details are provided in the sources, but the website’s reported suspension suggests it may no longer be hosted or was taken down by the provider due to complaints or legal action.
  • Proximity to Suspicious Websites: No direct evidence links hybridreserve.com’s IP to known malicious sites, but the lack of transparency about hosting infrastructure is concerning. (referencing a similar analysis for hbsrv.com) Analysis: The absence of verifiable hosting information and the website’s non-functional status are red flags. Legitimate brokers use reputable hosting providers with transparent infrastructure to ensure uptime and security. The lack of such details suggests HybridReserve may have used low-cost or obscure hosting to facilitate quick disappearance.

6. Social Media Presence

Findings:

  • Limited Presence: No specific mentions of HybridReserve’s official social media accounts (e.g., Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn) are found in the sources. Some references to social media links exist for Reserve.org (a different entity), but not for HybridReserve.
  • User Feedback: Negative user feedback on platforms like Trustpilot and Sitejabber does not mention engagement via social media, suggesting HybridReserve may not maintain active profiles or uses them minimally to avoid scrutiny. Analysis: Legitimate brokers typically maintain active social media accounts for customer engagement and transparency. HybridReserve’s apparent lack of a verifiable social media presence is a red flag, as it limits accountability and user interaction. This aligns with scam tactics to avoid traceable communication channels.

7. Red Flags and Potential Risk Indicators

Red Flags:

  • Unregulated Operations: Not licensed by any major regulator (e.g., FCA, ASIC, CySEC). Operates in offshore jurisdictions with minimal oversight.
  • Regulatory Warnings: Warnings issued by ASIC (Australia), FMA (Austria), CNMV (Spain), and FSMA (Belgium) in 2019 for unauthorized financial activities.
  • High Deposit Requirements: Reports of high initial deposit demands, unlike regulated brokers that often allow low entry points.
  • High Leverage Offers: Offers high leverage (up to 1:40), which is risky and typical of scam brokers aiming to amplify losses.
  • Withdrawal Barriers: Demands for additional fees, sensitive documents, or delays in processing withdrawals.
  • Fake Staff Names: Use of potentially fictitious names like “Nathan Oliver,” “Andrew Barnes,” “John Morgan,” and “Bill Schneider” for account managers.
  • Website Suspension: The website is reported as non-functional or suspended, indicating potential abandonment after collecting funds.
  • Lack of Transparency: No clear information about the CEO, management, or banking details, which is critical for assessing legitimacy.
  • Bonus Traps: Offers bonus money with restrictive conditions, making withdrawals difficult.
  • Scam Recovery Scams: Association with questionable recovery services targeting victims, suggesting a broader scam network. Analysis: The numerous red flags—unregulated status, regulatory warnings, high-risk financial practices, and operational opacity—strongly suggest HybridReserve is a scam. The pattern of high deposits, withdrawal barriers, and fake identities mirrors tactics used by fraudulent brokers to exploit users.

8. Website Content Analysis

Findings:

  • Claims and Offerings: The website (when active) claimed to offer Forex and CFD trading with a web-based platform by Proftit, supporting Forex pairs, cryptocurrencies, and virtual coins. It offered multiple account types with a minimum deposit of $250 and leverage up to 1:40.
  • Risk Disclaimer: The site included a standard disclaimer about the high risks of Forex and CFD trading, stating potential loss of all invested capital.
  • Corporate Information: Claimed to be operated by SingleBell LTD in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and SingleBell OU in Estonia, with a UK phone number (+442038077287) and email (support@hybridreserve.com).
  • False History: Claimed to be in operation since 2013, but domain registration and reports confirm activity only since 2018.
  • Suspended Status: As of 2021, the website was reported as non-functional, likely suspended due to regulatory action or abandonment. Analysis: The website’s content, when active, presented a professional facade with standard trading offerings and risk disclaimers to mimic legitimate brokers. However, the false operational history, offshore registration, and eventual suspension reveal deceptive intent. The lack of verifiable corporate details and the use of a UK phone number despite offshore registration suggest an attempt to appear reputable while avoiding accountability.

9. Regulatory Status

Findings:

  • Unregulated: HybridReserve is not licensed by any major financial regulator, such as the FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), CySEC (Cyprus), or others.
  • Offshore Entities: Operated by SingleBell LTD in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, a jurisdiction known for lax regulation, and SingleBell OU in Estonia, which is not registered as a financial entity.
  • Regulatory Warnings:
  • ASIC (Australia): Issued a warning in March 2019 for unauthorized operations.
  • FMA (Austria): Warned against HybridReserve in March 2019.
  • CNMV (Spain): Issued a warning in June 2019 for non-compliance with financial regulations.
  • FSMA (Belgium): Warned that SingleBell LTD/SingleBell OU offers investments without complying with Belgian financial legislation.
  • Law Enforcement Involvement: FinTelegram reported in 2020 that an EU law enforcement agency requested information about HybridReserve due to fraud complaints, naming individuals like Daniel Lopez Romero, Serge Michou, and Tchio Daloko as scam-connected. Analysis: The complete lack of regulatory licensing, combined with warnings from multiple reputable regulators, confirms HybridReserve’s illegal operations. The offshore entities and law enforcement scrutiny further indicate a deliberate attempt to operate outside legal frameworks, posing severe risks to investors.

10. User Precautions

Recommended Actions:

  1. Avoid Engagement: Do not invest or provide personal/financial information to HybridReserve or any associated entities, given the overwhelming evidence of scam activity.
  2. Verify Regulation: Always confirm a broker’s licensing with major regulators (e.g., FCA, ASIC, CySEC) before investing. Use official regulator websites to check status.
  3. Research Reviews: Check platforms like Trustpilot, Sitejabber, and Forex Peace Army for user experiences, but be cautious of fake positive reviews.
  4. Secure Accounts: If you’ve interacted with HybridReserve, change passwords, monitor bank accounts, and secure devices to prevent further unauthorized access.
  5. Report Scams: If scammed, report to local authorities and file a chargeback request with your bank or credit card provider. Consider reputable recovery services, but avoid unverified ones like those mentioned in reviews (e.g., Gmail-based contacts).
  6. Be Skeptical of Recovery Offers: Avoid third-party recovery services with unverified credentials, as they may be part of the scam ecosystem.
  7. Check Website Status: Ensure a broker’s website is active and secure before engaging. A suspended or non-functional site is a major red flag. Analysis: Users must exercise extreme caution with HybridReserve due to its confirmed scam status. The emphasis on regulatory verification and thorough research is critical to avoid similar fraudulent brokers. Reporting incidents promptly and securing personal information can mitigate further damage.

11. Potential Brand Confusion

Findings:

  • Similar Domains:
  • Reserve.org: An unrelated website focused on stable currencies, with a long history and social media presence. It has no apparent connection to HybridReserve but could be confused due to the “Reserve” keyword.
  • Canreserve.com: A young domain with a 71% trust score, flagged as medium to low risk. No direct link to HybridReserve, but the similar name could cause confusion.
  • Hbsrv.com: A suspicious website with a 48.4 trust score, potentially linked to dubious sites via hosting or IP proximity. Not directly related but part of a broader pattern of questionable “reserve” domains.
  • HybridReserve’s Branding: The use of “Hybrid” and “Reserve” suggests an attempt to sound professional and trustworthy, possibly mimicking legitimate financial institutions or crypto-related platforms. Analysis: HybridReserve may exploit brand confusion by using a name that resembles legitimate or established platforms (e.g., Reserve.org). The similarity in domain names and keywords could mislead users searching for reputable brokers or crypto services. This tactic is common among scam brokers to capitalize on misdirected traffic or trust in unrelated brands.

12. Conclusion and Recommendations

Summary: HybridReserve, operated by SingleBell LTD via https://www.hybridreserve.com/, exhibits all characteristics of a scam broker:

  • Unregulated and Illegal: No licensing, with warnings from ASIC, FMA, CNMV, and FSMA.
  • Fraudulent Practices: Consistent user reports of financial losses, withdrawal denials, unauthorized trading, and demands for sensitive information.
  • Operational Red Flags: Suspended website, offshore registration, hidden ownership, and false operational history.
  • High Risk: High deposit requirements, risky leverage, and lack of transparency increase financial exposure.
  • Potential Scam Ecosystem: Association with questionable recovery services suggests a broader network targeting victims. Recommendations:
  • Avoid Completely: Do not engage with HybridReserve or any related entities.
  • Seek Regulated Alternatives: Choose brokers licensed by reputable regulators (e.g., FCA, ASIC, CySEC) with transparent operations and positive user feedback.
  • Recover Funds Carefully: If scammed, pursue chargebacks through banks or consult verified recovery experts like MyChargeBack, avoiding unverified services.
  • Educate Yourself: Learn to spot scam indicators, such as unregulated status, offshore registration, and withdrawal barriers, to protect against future fraud. Final Note: The evidence overwhelmingly confirms that HybridReserve is a fraudulent broker. Users should exercise extreme caution, prioritize regulated platforms, and report any interactions to authorities to prevent further victimization.

Citations: This analysis references multiple sources from the provided web results, cited as where applicable. All findings are critically evaluated to avoid accepting unverified claims and to provide a balanced assessment.

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