Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
How to check a firm or individual is authorised
The FCA says the Firm Checker shows whether a firm is authorised with permission for a product or service, and advises matching contact details to the Firm Checker.
A transparent firm lets you confirm who it is before you pay. This page turns the UK Financial Conduct Authority's published checking guidance into a short checklist. It covers the UK register only, does not assess any broker, and cannot show that a firm outside the UK register is safe or unsafe.
Checklist Item 1: Authorisation and Permission
The FCA's guidance, first published on 20 March 2023 and last updated on 22 September 2026, states: "The Firm Checker will tell you if the firm is authorised and has our permission to sell you the product or service." Check both parts: authorised, and permitted for what is being offered.
Checklist Item 2: Use the Official Record
The FCA describes the register this way: "The Financial Services Register is the official public record for all firms and individuals." Use the register itself rather than a link or logo supplied by the firm.
Checklist Item 3: Match the Contact Details
On contact details, the FCA states: "Most firms we authorise must update or confirm their contact information, at least once a year." It adds a caution: "But the firm's contact details are provided and confirmed by the firm." The guidance then advises: "To protect yourself, make sure the contact details you've been given for the firm, match those on the Firm Checker."
Checklist Item 4: Keep a Record
Save the register page, the date you checked and the contact details you were given. If anything differs, stop and ask the firm in writing. Reporting steps are in how to report a binary options scam.
Limits
This checklist uses UK guidance. In the UK, retail binary options sales are prohibited; see our guide to binary options in the United Kingdom. For other countries, see the regulator list by country. The full steps are in how to check whether a broker is regulated, and common copying tactics are in clone firm scam warnings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the FCA Firm Checker show?
The FCA states: "The Firm Checker will tell you if the firm is authorised and has our permission to sell you the product or service."
Why compare contact details with the register?
The FCA advises: "To protect yourself, make sure the contact details you've been given for the firm, match those on the Firm Checker."
Does a firm's own website prove it is authorised?
The FCA guidance points to the official register as the record, so check there rather than relying on the firm's own claims.
Does this page address whether an individual could face liability?
This page summarises what the regulators' published guidance says. It does not address whether an individual could face liability. Seek independent legal advice.
Sources and Official References
- FCA: How to check a firm or individual is authorised (first published 20 March 2023; last updated 22 September 2026)
This page summarises what the regulators' published guidance says. It does not address whether an individual could face liability. Seek independent legal advice.
This page summarises what the regulators' published guidance says. It does not address whether an individual could face liability. Seek independent legal advice.