Below is a detailed analysis of Vast Scenery Court (https://www.vs-fx.com/) based on the requested criteria, including online complaint information, risk level assessment, website security, WHOIS lookup, IP and hosting analysis, social media presence, red flags, regulatory status, user precautions, potential brand confusion, and website content analysis. The analysis draws on available information, including web sources, and critically examines potential risks and indicators.

1. Online Complaint Information ¶

User Complaints: There are significant complaints about Vast Scenery Court, particularly from 2022, as documented on platforms like ForexBrokerz.com. A user reported depositing Bitcoin via Binance in October 2022, after which the platform rebranded to JKCFOREX. The user was unable to withdraw funds and was asked to pay an additional 10% of their total funds to process withdrawals, which they refused. The incident was reported to the police and Consob (Italian financial regulator).
Nature of Complaints: Complaints center on withdrawal issues, unexpected fees, and potential rebranding to evade accountability. These are common tactics associated with fraudulent brokers.
Reputation Risk: The presence of unresolved complaints, especially involving fund withdrawal issues, suggests a high risk of scams or unethical practices. Assessment: The complaints indicate serious operational and ethical concerns, pointing to potential scam behavior.

2. Risk Level Assessment ¶

Operational Risks: The reported inability to withdraw funds and demands for additional payments are strong indicators of a high-risk broker. Rebranding from Vast Scenery Court to JKCFOREX within a short period suggests an attempt to obscure negative history or regulatory scrutiny.
Financial Risks: Forex and CFD trading inherently carry high financial risks due to leverage, as noted on the Vast Scenery Court website. However, the complaints about withheld funds amplify this risk significantly.
Reputational Risks: Negative online feedback and scam allegations damage the broker’s credibility, increasing the risk for users who engage with the platform. Risk Level: High. The combination of user complaints, withdrawal issues, and rebranding raises significant red flags.

3. Website Security Tools ¶

SSL/TLS Encryption: The website (https://www.vs-fx.com/) uses HTTPS, indicating the presence of an SSL/TLS certificate, which encrypts data between the user and the server. This is a basic security measure expected of financial platforms.
Security Headers: No detailed information is available on specific security headers (e.g., Content Security Policy, X-Frame-Options) or additional protections like two-factor authentication (2FA) for user accounts.
Vulnerability Checks: There is no public evidence of third-party security audits or penetration testing for the website. Legitimate brokers typically highlight such measures to build trust. Assessment: The presence of HTTPS is standard but insufficient to confirm robust security. Lack of transparency about additional security measures is concerning for a financial platform.

4. WHOIS Lookup ¶

Domain Information:
Domain: vs-fx.com
Registrar: Likely a privacy-protected registrar (common for many brokers, legitimate or otherwise).
Registration Date: Exact date unavailable, but the website has been active since at least 2022, based on complaints and reviews.
Registrant Details: WHOIS data is often anonymized for broker websites, and no specific registrant details (e.g., company name, address) are publicly verifiable. The website’s lack of a clear corporate address in its contact section raises concerns about transparency.
Red Flags: Anonymized WHOIS data, combined with minimal contact information (only an email address), is a common tactic among unregulated or fraudulent brokers to avoid accountability. Assessment: The lack of transparent WHOIS data and corporate details suggests a high risk of unaccountability.

5. IP and Hosting Analysis ¶

IP Address: Specific IP details for vs-fx.com are not publicly available in the provided sources. However, hosting analysis typically involves checking the server location, hosting provider, and security measures.
Hosting Provider: Likely a commercial hosting provider, but no specific provider (e.g., AWS, Cloudflare) is mentioned. Legitimate brokers often use reputable hosting services with strong uptime and security.
Server Location: Unknown, but the website claims to be registered in London, UK. This claim is unverified, and discrepancies between claimed and actual server locations are common among scam brokers.
Security Concerns: Without evidence of DDoS protection, regular server audits, or secure hosting practices, the platform’s infrastructure security remains questionable. Assessment: Lack of verifiable hosting details contributes to the overall risk profile, as it obscures operational transparency.

Presence: There is no mention of official social media accounts (e.g., LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Facebook) for Vast Scenery Court in the provided sources or on the website itself.
Engagement: The absence of a social media presence is unusual for a legitimate broker, as most maintain active profiles for marketing and customer engagement.
Red Flags: Lack of social media activity could indicate a low-profile operation, possibly to avoid scrutiny or because the platform is not a well-established entity. Alternatively, it may rely on unregulated channels (e.g., Telegram groups) for client acquisition, a common tactic among scam brokers. Assessment: The absence of a verifiable social media presence is a significant red flag, suggesting limited transparency and engagement.

7. Red Flags and Potential Risk Indicators ¶

Anonymous Operations: The website provides no corporate address or detailed company background, only an email address. This anonymity is a major red flag.
Rebranding: The shift from Vast Scenery Court to JKCFOREX, as reported by a user, suggests an attempt to evade negative reputation or regulatory action.
Withdrawal Issues: Demanding additional fees for withdrawals is a classic scam tactic, as reported in user complaints.
False Regulatory Claims: The website claims to be regulated by FinCEN (MSB: 31000193480088) and FINTRAC (MSB Canada: M20953427). However, FinCEN registration as a Money Services Business (MSB) is not equivalent to a forex trading license, and checks with ASIC (Australia) revealed no registration under Vast Scenery Court, contradicting their claims.
Guaranteed Returns: Promises of guaranteed returns, as noted in reviews, are misleading and prohibited by regulators in jurisdictions like the EU, UK, and Australia, where brokers must disclose that 70%+ of traders lose money.
Lack of Transparency: The website lacks detailed information about management, operational history, or audited financials, which legitimate brokers typically provide. Assessment: Multiple red flags, including anonymity, false regulatory claims, and scam-like tactics, indicate a high likelihood of fraudulent operations.

8. Website Content Analysis ¶

Claims and Promises:
The website describes Vast Scenery Court as a “leading online forex trading broker in the United States” and emphasizes a “risk-free demo account.”
It highlights trading in forex, CFDs, gold, and silver, with a daily forex turnover of over $5 trillion, positioning itself as a major player.
Claims funds are stored in a “global AA National Bank isolation trust fund” for security, but no specific bank or verification is provided.
Misleading Information:
The claim of being a “leading” broker is unsubstantiated, given the lack of industry recognition or verifiable track record.
Promises of “quick entry and exit” and “personalized service” are vague and lack evidence of execution.
Platform Discrepancy: The website claims to offer MetaTrader4 and Sirix but reportedly provided MetaTrader5, indicating inconsistencies.
Risk Disclosure: While it acknowledges that trading is “highly risky” and “may not be suitable for all investors,” the emphasis on potential losses is overshadowed by promotional language, which could mislead inexperienced traders. Assessment: The website’s content is promotional, vague, and contains unverifiable claims, with discrepancies that erode credibility.

9. Regulatory Status ¶

Claimed Regulation:
Vast Scenery Court claims to be registered in London, UK, and regulated by FinCEN (MSB: 31000193480088) and FINTRAC (MSB Canada: M20953427). It also claims compliance with Canadian AML/CTF requirements.
It falsely claimed authorization by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), but checks confirmed no such registration.
Actual Status:
FinCEN and FINTRAC registrations as an MSB do not constitute a forex trading license. These are basic registrations for money transmission, not oversight of trading activities.
No evidence supports registration with a reputable financial regulator (e.g., FCA in the UK, CFTC in the US, or ASIC in Australia).
The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has highlighted risks with unregulated brokers, citing cases like Mirror Trading International, which defrauded users of $1.73 billion. Vast Scenery Court’s lack of CFTC registration is a concern.
Regulatory Red Flags: False claims of ASIC regulation and reliance on MSB registrations to imply legitimacy are deceptive practices. Assessment: Vast Scenery Court is not regulated by any reputable financial authority, and its claims are misleading, indicating a high risk of operating as an unlicensed broker.

10. User Precautions ¶

To protect themselves, users should take the following precautions when considering Vast Scenery Court or similar brokers:

Verify Regulation: Check the broker’s registration with reputable regulators (e.g., FCA, CFTC, ASIC) through official databases, not just website claims.
Research Complaints: Search for user reviews and complaints on platforms like ForexBrokerz, Trustpilot, or regulator websites before depositing funds.
Test Withdrawals: Start with small deposits and test withdrawals to confirm the platform’s reliability.
Avoid Extra Fees: Be wary of brokers demanding additional fees for withdrawals, as this is a common scam tactic.
Use Secure Platforms: Ensure the trading platform uses robust security measures (e.g., 2FA, audited servers) and avoid sharing sensitive information on unsecured sites.
Report Suspicious Activity: If funds are withheld or suspicious demands are made, report to local authorities and regulators (e.g., CFTC, Consob, or police). Assessment: Users must exercise extreme caution, given the broker’s high-risk profile and scam allegations.

11. Potential Brand Confusion ¶

Rebranding to JKCFOREX: The reported transition from Vast Scenery Court to JKCFOREX could confuse users, as accounts and credentials remained the same, but the platform’s name changed. This suggests an intentional attempt to disassociate from negative feedback or regulatory issues.
Similar Names: No specific evidence indicates confusion with other established brokers, but the generic name “Vast Scenery Court” and its lack of industry recognition could lead to confusion with legitimate firms using similar financial or scenic imagery in branding.
Domain Similarity: The domain vs-fx.com is straightforward but could be mimicked by copycat sites (e.g., vsfx.com, vs-fx.net), a common tactic among scam brokers to exploit typos or misspellings. Assessment: The rebranding to JKCFOREX is a deliberate act that could confuse users and obscure the broker’s negative history. Users should verify the exact domain and brand before engaging.

12. Summary and Recommendations ¶

Overall Risk Profile: Very High

Vast Scenery Court exhibits multiple characteristics of a potential scam broker, including user complaints about withheld funds, false regulatory claims, rebranding, anonymity, and lack of transparency.
The absence of verifiable regulation, social media presence, and detailed corporate information further undermines its credibility.
Website security is basic (HTTPS only), and content is promotional with unverifiable claims, increasing the risk of deception. Recommendations:
Avoid Engagement: Given the high risk and scam allegations, users should avoid depositing funds or trading with Vast Scenery Court.
Seek Regulated Alternatives: Choose brokers regulated by reputable authorities (e.g., FCA, CFTC, ASIC) with transparent operations and positive user feedback.
Report Issues: If affected by Vast Scenery Court, report to regulators (e.g., CFTC, FINTRAC, or local authorities) and share experiences on review platforms to warn others.
Conduct Due Diligence: Always verify a broker’s license, read independent reviews, and test platforms with small amounts before committing significant funds. Final Note: The evidence strongly suggests that Vast Scenery Court operates with deceptive practices, posing a significant risk to users. Proceed with extreme caution or avoid entirely.

Sources: -: Vast Scenery Court website content -: ForexBrokerz.com review and user complaint

General knowledge of forex broker regulations and scam tactics

AI risk analysis - Vast Scenery Court (2025-04-29 17:35:37)