FCA
Warning List of unauthorised firms
The FCA says its Warning List shows firms it is concerned are working without permission, and that a firm missing from the list may still be unauthorised or a scam.
People often search for a single binary options broker blacklist. No such list exists on this site or, as far as these sources show, anywhere as one official file. Regulators publish their own warning lists, each with its own scope. This page points to two of them and does not name or assess any firm.
What a Regulator's Warning List Is
The FCA states on its Warning List page: "Our Warning List shows the firms that we’re concerned are working without our permission." The page was first published on 2 April 2016 and its header shows an update on 30 June 2026. It is a statement about one regulator's concerns, not a verdict from a court and not a list of every problem firm.
Why Absence Tells You Little
The FCA is direct about the limit: "But if a firm isn’t on the list, it may still be unauthorised or be a scam." It adds a reason: "Unauthorised firms often change their names, and we may not be aware of it yet." A clean search result is therefore not a clearance.
A Second Example: Singapore
The Monetary Authority of Singapore publishes an Investor Alert List and its page was last updated on 17 September 2026. MAS states: "This list is not exhaustive and is based on what was known to MAS at the time of publication." The pattern is the same: a list reflects what a regulator knew when it published.
How to Use Lists Safely
Search the lists of the regulators relevant to where you live, then check the register of authorised firms as a separate step; the two answer different questions. The steps are in how to check whether a broker is regulated. Lists published by several regulators are collected in warning lists by regulator, and one more is explained in the CySEC Warning List guide. If you think you have met a scam, see how to report a binary options scam.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the FCA Warning List show?
The FCA states: "Our Warning List shows the firms that we’re concerned are working without our permission."
If a firm is not on a warning list, is it safe?
No. The FCA says: "But if a firm isn’t on the list, it may still be unauthorised or be a scam."
Does the MAS list cover every problem entity?
MAS states: "This list is not exhaustive and is based on what was known to MAS at the time of publication."
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: Warning List of unauthorised firms (first published 2 April 2016; last updated 30 June 2026)
- MAS: Investor Alert List (last updated 17 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.