Below is a detailed analysis of the broker associated with the website https://herzen-intcare.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, potential brand confusion, and website content analysis. The analysis draws from available web information and critically evaluates the broker’s legitimacy and associated risks.

1. Online Complaint Information ¶

• Scam Reports and User Complaints: Multiple sources report significant user complaints about Herzen (herzen-intcare.com). Users have alleged:
• Inability to Withdraw Funds: Complaints include blocked withdrawals, with users being asked to pay additional fees (e.g., $15,000 for “insider trading investigations”) to process withdrawals, which were still not honored. One user reported losing $420,000.
• Fraudulent Practices: Users describe being lured with promises of guaranteed profits, only to face withdrawal issues or demands for more payments.
• Hacking Claims: Some reports mention the platform claiming it was “hacked,” delaying or preventing access to funds, which users suspect is a fabricated excuse.
• Malaysian Securities Commission (SC) Complaints: By mid-2023, the SC received reports from 500 victims who lost nearly RM1 million to fraudulent investment schemes, with Herzen implicated in these complaints.
• Review Platforms:
• Scamadviser: Assigns herzen-intcare.com a low trust score based on 40 data points, including server location in a high-risk country and hosting on a shared server, which is often associated with fraudulent sites.
• Scam Detector: Questions the legitimacy of herzen-intcare.com, highlighting potential risks but not providing a definitive trust score.
• BeerMoneyForum: Notes a minimum investment of $500 and high leverage (1:500x), with a disclaimer to only invest what one can afford to lose, indicating skepticism about reliability.
• FraudComplaints.net: Reports unfavorable reviews and suggests Herzen has deceived many customers. Conclusion: The volume and severity of complaints, including large financial losses and withdrawal issues, indicate a high risk of fraudulent activity.

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2. Risk Level Assessment ¶

• High-Risk Indicators:
• Unregulated Status: Herzen lacks regulation by any recognized financial authority, increasing the risk of unfair practices and lack of fund security.
• Location in a High-Risk Country: The website is reportedly hosted in a country with high levels of fraud and corruption, as per the International Banking Federation.
• Anonymous Ownership: Lack of transparent information about the company’s ownership or leadership is a significant red flag.
• User Experiences: Reports of aggressive tactics to encourage additional deposits and high withdrawal fees suggest manipulative practices.
• ScamAdviser Trust Score: The low trust score reflects concerns about server location, lack of contact details, and negative reviews.
• Potential for Identity Theft: Providing personal information to an unregulated platform increases the risk of data misuse. Risk Level: High. The combination of unregulated status, user complaints, and anonymous operations suggests significant financial and personal data risks.

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3. Website Security Tools ¶

• SSL Certificate: Herzen-intcare.com has an SSL certificate, ensuring encrypted data transmission between the user’s browser and the website. However, scammers increasingly use SSL certificates, so this is not a guarantee of legitimacy.
• Security Tools:
• No evidence of advanced security measures like two-factor authentication (2FA) or robust client fund segregation is mentioned on the website or in reviews.
• Hosting on a shared server raises concerns, as shared servers are less secure and often used by low-cost or fraudulent sites.
• Potential Vulnerabilities: The claim of a “hack” reported by users suggests either genuine security weaknesses or a pretext to delay fund access. Conclusion: While an SSL certificate is present, the use of a shared server and lack of transparency about additional security measures indicate moderate to high security risks.

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4. WHOIS Lookup ¶

• Domain Information:
• Domain Name: herzen-intcare.com
• Registrar: GoDaddy.com, LLC
• WHOIS Privacy: The WHOIS information is hidden, which is common for fraudulent websites to conceal ownership details.
• Registration Date: First analyzed on August 17, 2022, indicating a relatively new domain (less than 3 years old as of April 2025), which is a red flag for financial platforms.
• Last Updated: November 25, 2023.
• Implications: Hidden WHOIS data and a new domain age are common tactics used by scam websites to avoid accountability. Legitimate brokers typically provide transparent registration details. Conclusion: The hidden WHOIS data and recent domain registration suggest high risk of anonymity and potential fraud.

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5. IP and Hosting Analysis ¶

• Hosting Provider: The website is hosted by Cloudflare, Inc. (AS13335), a common hosting service.
• Server Location: The server is located in San Francisco, California, which may not align with the broker’s claimed operations in the Marshall Islands. This discrepancy raises concerns about authenticity.
• Shared Hosting: The use of a shared server increases vulnerability to security breaches and is atypical for reputable financial platforms.
• High-Risk Location: The hosting country (USA) is not inherently high-risk, but the mismatch with the claimed operational base (Marshall Islands) is a red flag. Conclusion: The use of Cloudflare and a shared server, combined with a location mismatch, indicates moderate to high risk due to potential security vulnerabilities and lack of transparency.

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6. Social Media Presence ¶

• Limited Presence: There is no verifiable information about Herzen’s official social media accounts on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram.
• Red Flags:
• Fraudulent Social Media Activity: Other firms, like Redwheel, have reported scammers using their brand to promote fake crypto investments via social media, suggesting a risk of similar tactics by Herzen.
• Lack of engagement on social media is unusual for a legitimate broker, which typically maintains active profiles for customer interaction and marketing.
• User Precautions: Avoid interacting with any social media accounts claiming to represent Herzen without verifying their authenticity through the official website (if trustworthy) or regulatory bodies. Conclusion: The absence of a verifiable social media presence and the risk of fraudulent accounts impersonating the broker indicate high risk.

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7. Red Flags and Potential Risk Indicators ¶

• Anonymity: No corporate address, company name, or leadership details are provided, making the website virtually anonymous.
• Unregulated Status: Lack of regulation by reputable authorities (e.g., FCA, ASIC, CySEC) increases the risk of fraud.
• High Leverage: Offering leverage up to 1:500x is unusually high and risky, often used to attract inexperienced traders.
• Withdrawal Issues: Reports of high withdrawal fees (e.g., 20%+), delays, or outright denials are major red flags.
• New Domain: A domain age of less than 3 years is concerning for a financial platform claiming over 10 years of experience.
• Misleading Claims: The website claims “10 years+ experience” but was established in 2022, indicating potential deception.
• Regulatory Warnings: The Malaysian Securities Commission has issued warnings about Herzen, signaling regulatory concerns.
• Crypto Payments: Encouraging deposits in cryptocurrencies (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum) is risky, as transactions are irreversible, making recovery difficult in case of fraud. Conclusion: Multiple red flags, including anonymity, regulatory warnings, and misleading claims, strongly suggest high risk of fraudulent activity.

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8. Website Content Analysis ¶

• Claims and Promises:
• Herzen claims to be a “leading firm” specializing in forex, precious metals, crude oil, indices, and cryptocurrencies, with “10 years+ experience.”
• Offers access to MetaTrader 5 (MT5), a legitimate trading platform, but this is not exclusive to reputable brokers.
• Advertises over 100 CFD instruments and bank-grade security, but lacks evidence to substantiate these claims.
• Lack of Transparency:
• No specific details about account types, fees, or trading conditions are provided in reviews, which is unusual for legitimate brokers.
• Absence of a demo account, which is standard for testing platforms, is a drawback.
• Design and Professionalism:
• The website is described as stylishly designed (gray, beige, black), aiming to appear professional. However, this is a common tactic used by scam sites to build trust.
• Inconsistencies:
• The claim of 10+ years of experience conflicts with the 2022 establishment date, suggesting deceptive marketing. Conclusion: The website’s polished appearance and bold claims are undermined by inconsistencies, lack of transparency, and unverifiable assertions, indicating high risk of deception.

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9. Regulatory Status ¶

• Unregulated: Herzen is not regulated by any recognized financial authority, such as the FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), or CySEC (Cyprus).
• Marshall Islands Base: The broker is headquartered in the Marshall Islands, a known offshore jurisdiction with lax regulatory oversight, often chosen by fraudulent entities.
• Regulatory Warnings: The Malaysian Securities Commission has flagged Herzen, indicating it operates without authorization in Malaysia.
• Implications: Without regulation, there is no oversight to ensure fair practices, client fund segregation, or dispute resolution, significantly increasing the risk of fraud. Conclusion: The lack of regulation and warnings from authorities confirm a high-risk status.

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10. User Precautions ¶

To protect against potential risks when considering Herzen or similar platforms:

• Verify Regulation: Only trade with brokers regulated by reputable authorities (e.g., FCA, ASIC, CySEC). Check regulatory status on official registers.
• Research Reviews: Investigate user reviews on platforms like ScamAdviser, WikiFX, or FraudComplaints.net, but be cautious of overly positive reviews that may be fake.
• Test Withdrawals: Deposit a small amount and attempt to withdraw it to verify the process before committing larger sums.
• Avoid Crypto Payments: Use reversible payment methods like credit cards (VISA, Mastercard) to enable chargebacks if issues arise.
• Check WHOIS Data: Be wary of platforms with hidden WHOIS information, as this suggests a lack of accountability.
• Use Security Tools: Install browser extensions like Guardio to block malicious sites and protect personal data.
• Report Scams: If scammed, report to the Federal Trade Commission (USA) or local authorities and file complaints with platforms like ScamWatcher.
• Avoid High Leverage: Be cautious of offers with high leverage (e.g., 1:500x), as they amplify financial risk. Conclusion: Users must exercise extreme caution, prioritizing regulated brokers and secure payment methods to minimize risks.

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11. Potential Brand Confusion ¶

• Similar Names:
• Herzen-int.com: Another domain reviewed by Scam Detector, which received a high trust score (100/100), suggesting it is legitimate. This creates potential confusion with herzen-intcare.com, which is flagged as risky.
• Heraizen Technologies (heraizen.com): A technology company with no relation to Herzen but a similar-sounding name, which could cause accidental association.
• Herz.is: A domain with a similar name but no clear connection to Herzen’s operations, potentially adding to confusion.
• Implications: Scammers may exploit similar domain names to mislead users into trusting fraudulent platforms by mimicking legitimate brands. The high trust score of herzen-int.com contrasts sharply with herzen-intcare.com’s low trust, highlighting the risk of brand confusion.
• Redwheel Example: Redwheel reported fraudulent use of its brand to promote fake crypto investments, suggesting a broader trend of brand impersonation that Herzen could exploit. Conclusion: The similarity between herzen-intcare.com and other domains (e.g., herzen-int.com) poses a moderate to high risk of brand confusion, potentially used to deceive users.

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12. Overall Assessment ¶

• Legitimacy: Herzen (herzen-intcare.com) exhibits multiple characteristics of a scam, including unregulated status, user complaints, withdrawal issues, and anonymous operations. The Malaysian Securities Commission’s warnings and low trust scores from review platforms further confirm its unreliability.
• Risk Level: High. The combination of red flags, lack of regulation, and significant financial losses reported by users makes Herzen a highly risky platform.
• Recommendation: Avoid engaging with herzen-intcare.com. Opt for regulated brokers with transparent operations, verifiable contact details, and positive user feedback.

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13. Sources ¶

The analysis is based on information from the following web sources:

• Scamadviser
• Scam Detector
• Scam Detector (herzen-int.com)
• BeerMoneyForum
• Herzen-intcare.com
• WikiFX
• ForexBrokerz
• ScamWatcher
• FraudComplaints.net
• Redwheel Note: Always verify information independently, as some sources may contain inaccuracies or biases. If you have been affected by Herzen, consider reporting to regulatory authorities or seeking legal advice. If you need further assistance or specific actions to take, please let me know!