Below is a comprehensive analysis of TrustGarden (official website: https://www.trustgarden.net/) based on online complaint information, risk level assessment, website security, WHOIS lookup, IP and hosting analysis, social media presence, red flags, potential risk indicators, website content, regulatory status, user precautions, and potential brand confusion.

# TrustGarden Broker Analysis
## 1. Online Complaint Information

TrustGarden has received significant negative feedback across various review platforms, raising concerns about its legitimacy:

• Trustpilot Reviews: Out of 38 reviews, there are mixed sentiments. Some users report positive experiences, praising the platform’s educational support and staff. However, others label TrustGarden as a scam, citing issues like non-payment, fake websites, and aggressive telemarketing tactics. Complaints include brokers refusing withdrawals unless upfront fees (e.g., 10% of profits) are paid, after which communication ceases. Another user reported “telephone terror” with threats to sell personal data to other firms after refusing investment offers.
• Scam Detector: TrustGarden.net received a medium trust score of 50.9, tagged as “Questionable. Minimal Doubts. Controversial.” The score reflects potential risks like phishing or spamming, based on 53 aggregated factors.
• ForexBrokerz: Describes TrustGarden as an unregulated offshore broker likely to scam users, citing shady identity, high withdrawal barriers, and questionable trading platforms.
• Personal Reviews: Labels TrustGarden as an unregulated forex broker, warning that it uses persuasive tactics to secure initial deposits and employs “retention agents” to extract more funds. Users reported losing significant sums (e.g., €1,900) with no withdrawals possible.
• Scamdoc: Notes hidden WHOIS data and aggressive marketing with unrealistic profit promises, contributing to a low trust score.
• Global Fraud Protection: Highlights fake Trustpilot reviews flagged for misuse and warns against the broker’s lack of transparency and regulation. Summary: The prevalence of complaints about non-payment, aggressive sales tactics, and refusal to process withdrawals strongly suggests fraudulent behavior. Positive reviews appear inconsistent with the majority and may be fabricated, as noted by Trustpilot’s flagging.

  2. Risk Level Assessment

Based on available data, TrustGarden poses a high risk to users due to:

• Unregulated Status: TrustGarden lacks oversight from reputable financial regulators (see Regulatory Status section), increasing the risk of fund mismanagement or fraud.
• Proximity to Suspicious Websites: Scam Detector’s analysis indicates a high score (above 80) for connections to questionable online platforms, signaling potential phishing or scam affiliations.
• User Complaints: Reports of funds being locked, withdrawal denials, and aggressive telemarketing align with common scam broker tactics.
• High Minimum Deposits: Requirements range from €250 to €5,000, with discrepancies across the website, which is unusual for legitimate brokers.
• Unrealistic Promises: Claims of high profits with low risk, as reported by users, are typical of scam brokers. Risk Level: High. Users should exercise extreme caution or avoid engagement entirely.

  3. Website Security Tools

An analysis of TrustGarden’s website security reveals:

• SSL Certificate: The website uses an SSL certificate, encrypting data between the user’s browser and the server. However, SSL is common even among scam sites and does not guarantee legitimacy.
• Content Security Policy: The site employs a Content Security Policy (upgrade-insecure-requests), which helps mitigate certain types of attacks like cross-site scripting.
• No Security Seals: Unlike reputable brokers, TrustGarden does not display trust seals from recognized security providers (e.g., Trust Guard, McAfee).
• Potential Vulnerabilities: Scam Detector notes vulnerabilities in the site’s HTML code, potentially linked to unsolicited emails or ads, though specifics are unclear. Summary: While basic security measures like SSL are present, the absence of robust security certifications and reported vulnerabilities weaken trust in the site’s safety.

  4. WHOIS Lookup

The WHOIS data for trustgarden.net provides the following insights:

• Domain Age: Registered on June 17, 2021, making it relatively young (less than 4 years old as of April 2025). Young domains are often associated with higher scam risks.
• Registrar: Namecheap Inc., a common registrar used by both legitimate and questionable sites.
• Registrant Information: Hidden via a privacy service (Withheld for Privacy ehf, Iceland). While privacy services are not inherently suspicious, they are frequently used by scam sites to conceal ownership.
• Expiration Date: Expired on June 17, 2022, and no updated WHOIS data confirms renewal. This raises concerns about the site’s operational status, as expired domains can be abandoned or repurposed. Summary: The hidden registrant details and expired domain status are red flags, suggesting a lack of transparency and potential abandonment.

  5. IP and Hosting Analysis

Hosting details for trustgarden.net include:

• Hosting Provider: Amazon Web Services (AWS), with nameservers like ns-1383.awsdns-44.org. AWS is widely used, including by scam sites, so this is neutral.
• Server Location: Likely hosted via CloudFront (CDN), with a point of presence in Paris (CDG52-P2). This does not align with the claimed Marshall Islands registration, indicating possible obfuscation.
• IP Activity: No specific reports of malicious activity tied to the IP, but the use of a CDN makes it harder to trace the actual server location.
• Traffic Rank: Global rank of #5,903,560, indicating low traffic and limited user engagement, which is unusual for a legitimate broker. Summary: The use of AWS and CloudFront is standard but does not confirm legitimacy. The low traffic rank and mismatch between hosting and claimed jurisdiction raise concerns.

  6. Social Media Presence

TrustGarden’s social media presence is minimal:

• No Official Accounts: Searches for TrustGarden on platforms like X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn yield no verified accounts linked to trustgarden.net.
• Suspicious Ads: Scam Detector notes reports of suspicious Facebook and Instagram ads linked to TrustGarden, potentially used to lure victims.
• User Reports: Complaints mention aggressive marketing via phone calls rather than social media, suggesting a focus on direct outreach over public social media engagement. Summary: The lack of a legitimate social media presence and reports of suspicious ads are red flags, indicating a reliance on non-transparent marketing tactics.

  7. Red Flags and Potential Risk Indicators

Several red flags and risk indicators emerge from the analysis:

• Unregulated Broker: No evidence of licensing from reputable regulators (e.g., FCA, CySEC, ASIC). Claims of compliance with MiFID and international laws are misleading, as the Marshall Islands do not regulate forex brokers.
• Withdrawal Issues: Users report withdrawal denials, high fees (e.g., 10% upfront), and unattainable trading volume requirements, common among scam brokers.
• Aggressive Marketing: Persistent phone calls, threats to sell personal data, and unrealistic profit promises are reported, indicating predatory tactics.
• Discrepancies in Information: The website lists conflicting minimum deposit amounts (€250 vs. $5,000) and claims to offer Sirix but provides an unproven web trader instead.
• Hidden Ownership: Anonymous WHOIS data and unclear company details (e.g., vague Marshall Islands address) obscure accountability.
• Association with Questionable Platforms: Ties to Leverate’s Sirix WebTrader, which is legitimate but used by some scam brokers, and connections to suspicious websites increase risk.
• Fake Reviews: Trustpilot flagged TrustGarden for fake positive reviews, undermining credibility. Summary: These red flags collectively point to a high likelihood of fraudulent operations, with tactics designed to extract funds without delivering promised services.

  8. Website Content Analysis

Analysis of trustgarden.net’s content reveals:

• Professional Appearance: The website claims to offer forex, CFDs, and commodities trading with a “reliable and efficient” platform. It lists account types (Green to Presidential) with varying spreads and mentions a mobile app.
• Misleading Claims: References to MiFID compliance and international financial laws are false, as the Marshall Islands do not enforce such standards.
• Trading Platform: Claims to use Sirix but reportedly offers a generic web trader, which lacks the robustness of industry standards like MT4/MT5.
• Inaccessible Sections: As of recent reports, parts of the website (e.g., client login) are inaccessible, suggesting it may be inactive or abandoned.
• Contact Information: Lists a Marshall Islands address (Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Majuro, MH96960), a common offshore location for scam brokers, and provides no verifiable phone or email details. Summary: The website’s professional veneer is undermined by false regulatory claims, inaccessible sections, and questionable platform offerings, aligning with scam broker characteristics.

  9. Regulatory Status

TrustGarden’s regulatory status is a critical concern:

• No Regulation: TrustGarden is not licensed by any recognized financial authority (e.g., FCA, CySEC, ASIC). Its registration in the Marshall Islands, an offshore jurisdiction, offers no regulatory oversight for forex trading.
• False Claims: The website’s mention of MiFID 2006/73/EC compliance is misleading, as this applies to EU-regulated brokers, not offshore entities.
• WikiFX Warning: Confirms no valid regulatory information, advising users to avoid the broker due to high risk.
• Estonian Law Reference: Terms and Conditions suggest Estonian law applies, but no evidence supports this, and the Marshall Islands registration contradicts it. Summary: TrustGarden operates without regulatory oversight, rendering it unaccountable and highly risky for investors.

  10. User Precautions

To protect against potential scams like TrustGarden, users should:

• Verify Regulation: Only trade with brokers licensed by reputable regulators (e.g., FCA, CySEC, ASIC). Check official regulator websites for confirmation.
• Research Reviews: Cross-reference reviews on platforms like Trustpilot, Scam Detector, and WikiFX, but be wary of fake positive reviews.
• Avoid High-Pressure Tactics: Be cautious of brokers using aggressive phone calls or unrealistic profit promises. Never share personal or financial details under pressure.
• Test Withdrawals: Deposit small amounts initially and attempt withdrawals to verify the broker’s reliability before committing larger sums.
• Use Secure Payment Methods: Prefer credit cards or regulated e-wallets (e.g., PayPal, Skrill) for deposits, as they offer chargeback options. Avoid wire transfers, which are harder to recover.
• Report Scams: If scammed, contact your bank for chargeback options, report to the Federal Trade Commission, and seek assistance from fraud recovery services like Global Fraud Protection.
• Check WHOIS and Hosting: Use WHOIS lookup to verify domain age and ownership. Young domains or hidden registrants are red flags. Summary: Thorough due diligence and skepticism of unsolicited offers are essential to avoid falling victim to brokers like TrustGarden.

  11. Potential Brand Confusion

TrustGarden’s name may cause confusion with other entities:

• Trust Garden (trustgarden.com): A crypto project developer focused on R&D, unrelated to forex trading. The similar name could mislead users into assuming legitimacy.
• Trust Guard (trustguard.com): A website security provider offering vulnerability scans and trust seals. Its established reputation contrasts with TrustGarden’s questionable status, potentially causing mix-ups.
• TrustGrade (trustgrade.com): A customer review platform for businesses, unrelated to trading. The name similarity might confuse users seeking review platforms.
• Trustgarden.jp: A Japanese site with unrelated content, mentioned in competitive analysis but not clearly linked to trustgarden.net. Summary: The similarity in names with legitimate or unrelated entities could be exploited to create a false sense of credibility, a common tactic among scam brokers.

  12. Conclusion

TrustGarden (trustgarden.net) exhibits numerous characteristics of a scam broker, including lack of regulation, widespread user complaints, aggressive marketing, withdrawal issues, and misleading website claims. Its high-risk profile is compounded by hidden ownership, low traffic, and potential brand confusion with legitimate entities. Users should avoid TrustGarden and opt for regulated brokers with transparent operations and verified reviews. Recommendation: Do not invest with TrustGarden. If you have engaged with the broker, immediately contact your bank for chargeback options and report the issue to relevant authorities.