Moneysmart (ASIC)
Check before you invest
Moneysmart advises verifying a licence holder's name and number on ASIC's registers and says unlicensed, unregulated investments make it harder to get help.
Some trading platforms are registered in places far from the customer, and a licence abroad may offer little help at home. This page summarises what Moneysmart, run by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), publishes about checking licences and about unregulated investments. It does not name or assess any firm.
Check the Licence Before You Invest
On its check before you invest page, last updated on 4 September 2026, Moneysmart advises: "Before investing, make sure you verify the licence holder’s name and number on ASIC’s professional registers." It also warns: "Relying solely on advertisements, websites or online search results can put consumers at risk." A firm's claim to be regulated somewhere is therefore a starting point for checking, not proof.
Unlicensed and Unregulated
The page states: "If you invest in something that is unlicensed and unregulated in Australia, it’s harder to get help if things go wrong." It adds: "Many of these investments are higher risk, so you may be more likely to lose your money." The page does not have a dedicated section on overseas firms; the second sentence follows a passage about investments not regulated by ASIC, which includes international investments not offered by licensed Australian providers.
What This Means for Binary Options
In Australia, ASIC prohibited the issue and distribution of binary options to retail clients; see our guide to binary options in Australia. The Moneysmart page reviewed does not mention binary options, so this page cannot say how its advice applies to a particular product. For the checking steps used on this site, read how to check whether a broker is regulated. For the wider picture see what ASIC regulation means for binary options, unregulated binary options brokers: risks regulators describe and binary options regulator list by country.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Moneysmart say to check before investing?
Moneysmart advises: "Before investing, make sure you verify the licence holder’s name and number on ASIC’s professional registers."
Why is an unlicensed firm a problem?
The page states: "If you invest in something that is unlicensed and unregulated in Australia, it’s harder to get help if things go wrong."
Is a firm's own website enough to confirm it is regulated?
Moneysmart says relying solely on advertisements, websites or online search results can put consumers at risk.
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
- Moneysmart: Check before you invest (last updated 4 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.