My 'broker' is asking for a 'clearing fee' to release my profits. Is this legit or another scam?

Clearing fee? Tax deposit? Daan, please STOP. This is a classic scam. There is no such thing as paying a 'clearing fee' *to your broker* to get your money out, especially after paying a 'tax deposit.' Legitimate brokers handle taxes differently, and withdrawal fees are typically deducted directly from the amount you're withdrawing. Every extra fee they ask for is just another layer of deception. Your money isn't there, or if it ever was, it's long gone now. They're just trying to squeeze every last euro out of you. Do not fall for it. You will never see that money again, and you'll just lose more.

Ugh, Daan, this sounds like a classic recovery scam setup, unfortunately. First off, a legitimate broker, especially one regulated by say, the FCA or BaFin, would NEVER ask you for multiple 'fees' or 'deposits' just to withdraw your own profits. Fees for withdrawals are usually a small, fixed amount or a very tiny percentage, and they're deducted *from* your withdrawal, not paid upfront. The red flags are practically waving themselves here.

The 'clearing fee' and 'tax deposit' are made-up terms designed to extract more money from you. They're banking on your hope and the sunk cost fallacy (you've already paid some, so you might pay more to get your money back). Please, stop engaging with them. Any further money you send will just disappear. Your partner is right. It's a total scam.

Oh no, Daan, this hits really close to home. I had almost the exact same thing happen to me with an unregulated crypto platform. First it was a 'verification fee,' then a 'blockchain transaction fee,' and finally a 'government tax fee' — all to get my supposed profits out. I lost close to 8,000 euros before I finally woke up. They just kept coming up with new excuses. Don't pay anything else. They'll never let you withdraw; it's just a way to milk more money from you. Cut your losses now. It's horrible, I know. I still get sick thinking about it.

Honestly, Daan, if you're asking if a 'clearing fee' after a 'tax deposit' is legit from an online broker, you already know the answer in your gut, don't you? No legitimate financial institution asks you to pay upfront fees *to them* to release *your own money*. That's just not how it works. Sounds like these guys are just getting greedier. Sorry mate, but I'd brace yourself for the fact that money's probably gone.

Man, this sounds so familiar it's painful. I got caught in something similar last year. My 'broker' (who was actually just some dude on Telegram, smh) told me I needed to pay an 'anti-money laundering fee' and then a 'liquidity provider's fee' before I could get my funds. I paid the first one because I was so desperate to get my supposed profits. The second one, my bank actually flagged as suspicious when I tried to send it, and that's when I finally stopped. It was like I was in a trance or something. These fees are completely made up. Please, please don't send them another cent. It's a well-known tactic for these scam operations.

Hey Daan, really sorry you're going through this. It's a tough situation, but like others are saying, these fees are a massive red flag. Real brokers operate transparently with fees, and they're always outlined in their terms. This 'clearing fee' plus a previous 'tax deposit' just screams scam. It's so easy to get sucked into these things, especially when you see those numbers go up on the screen. Don't beat yourself up, but definitely don't send any more money. Report them to your local financial authorities – for you, that would be the AFM in the Netherlands. They might not get your money back, but it helps them track these operations.

Mate, I've seen this exact scenario play out countless times on various forums. It's always a new, invented fee. 'Clearing fee,' 'compliance fee,' 'anti-money laundering fee,' 'tax bond,' 'profit release fee' – the names change, but the tactic is the same: get you to pay more and more until you either run out of money or finally realise it's a scam. Once they have your money, they just keep coming up with excuses. They're not going to let you withdraw. As hard as it is, you need to accept that the money you put in, and the money you've already paid in fees, is likely gone. Stop all communication.

This 'clearing fee' request is a classic indicator of a fraudulent operation, Daan. Reputable financial institutions, especially those that deal with international transfers, build any such operational costs into their standard fees, which are either disclosed upfront or deducted transparently from the transaction itself. They do not demand additional, unexpected payments from clients for the release of their own funds. The preceding 'tax deposit' request further solidifies this as a scam. You are being subjected to what's known as an advance-fee scam, where they continuously invent new fees to extract more money. Your best course of action is to cease all payments and communication. Gather all documentation you have (screenshots, transaction records, communication logs) and report this to relevant financial regulators, such as the AFM in the Netherlands or BaFin in Germany if they're claiming any German connection. While recovery is often difficult, reporting is crucial.

No, Daan, absolutely not. A 'clearing fee' on top of a 'tax deposit' is 100% a scam. Legitimate financial systems have fees, yes, but they are transparent and part of the agreed-upon terms, not these surprise, ever-increasing demands just to get your money out. It's a common tactic to keep victims on the hook, hoping they'll pay just *one more fee* to get their money back. They create a false sense of urgency and obligation. Please, don't send another cent. Your money isn't coming back via their system. You're better off cutting your losses now than digging yourself deeper into this financial hole.

A 'clearing fee' is definitely not standard. Real brokers deduct their legitimate fees from your account balance or clearly state them in the terms. Asking for an upfront payment specifically for 'releasing profits' sounds like a massive red flag. These scams often snowball – first a deposit, then a fee to release, then another tax… it never ends. Your partner is likely right. Did you check if this broker is regulated by any authority like the FCA in the UK or BaFin in Germany? If they aren't, that's another huge warning sign.

Bruh, 'clearing fee'? That's a new one to me, or at least a variation on the same old tune. If you paid a 'tax deposit' already, and now they want more for 'clearing' your funds, you're definitely being played. It's a straight-up scam, my friend. These guys are just making up words to trick you into sending them more cash. Walk away, report them to whoever you can, but don't expect to see that money again. It sucks, I know, but that's how these unregulated outfits operate.

Oh no, that sounds awful! I'm so sorry you're going through this. It's completely understandable why you're feeling uneasy. Trust your gut feeling – it's usually right when something feels off like this. Sending you strength!

Clearing fee? Never heard of that. Sounds like they're just trying to squeeze more money out of you. If they're asking for this after you've already paid a 'tax deposit' (which also sounds dodgy), then it's almost certainly a scam. Stick to regulated brokers, always. If you're unsure, check the regulator's website for a list of authorized firms. They won't ask for extra fees like this to release your own money.

REPORT THIS IMMEDIATELY. This is a classic pump-and-dump or advance-fee fraud. They let you see fake profits to build trust, then invent fees or taxes to steal your money. Do NOT send them any more money. They will keep inventing reasons to ask for more. Your best bet is to report them to the relevant financial authority in their country (if you can figure that out) and your local police. Also, report it to IC3 if you're in the US or a similar cybercrime reporting agency.

Mate, I've traded for years and never encountered a 'clearing fee' to release profits. That's a common tactic used by scam outfits. They create fake profits on a platform they control, then invent these arbitrary fees to extort more money from victims before you can withdraw. It’s the same story with many offshore platforms that aren't regulated by reputable bodies like ASIC. Stop sending them cash, and assume the money you sent already is gone. Report it to the Australian Cyber Security Centre.

This is happening to me right now. They asked me for a 'compliance fee' last week. I was so close to paying it, then my wife stopped me. She said, 'If it was real, why wouldn't they take it out of the profits?' Good point. Now they're threatening to close my account if I don't pay. I feel like such an idiot. Lost about £2k on the 'deposit' already. It's gutting. I wish I'd seen this thread sooner.

Oh wow, been there! I fell for a similar scam about two years ago. They kept asking for 'administrative fees' and 'currency conversion charges' to release my supposed winnings from a crypto thing. It's heartbreaking, but the money you sent is likely gone. The key thing is to stop communication and report it. I reported mine to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and blocked the numbers. Don't send another penny. Your gut is telling you the truth.

Oh dear, that sounds very worrying indeed. Please be very careful. A legitimate broker wouldn't ask for a separate 'clearing fee' like that. Usually, any fees are clearly outlined upfront and deducted from your trading balance, not demanded as a pre-payment to release your own funds. Your partner is right to be suspicious. Maybe try checking if the broker is registered with a financial authority like the AFM?

This is textbook advance-fee fraud. They show you fictitious profits to entice you, then invent bogus fees – 'clearing fees,' 'tax deposits,' 'verification charges' – to keep you sending money. No real, regulated broker operates this way. If they're not regulated by a body like the CFTC in the US or the FCA, steer clear. Always verify a broker's regulatory status directly on the regulator's website, not just what the broker claims. Stop all communication and consider reporting it to the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) here in SA.

Red flag, red flag, red flag! Trust me, I've seen this so many times. They lure you in with fake profits, then hit you with these made-up fees. Clearing fee? Tax deposit? Sounds like every scammer's playbook. They'll keep asking for more. Do NOT pay them. It's a common scam on unregulated platforms. If they aren't regulated by the FCA or another major body, it's basically gambling with thieves. Report them to Action Fraud in the UK.

I know exactly how you feel. I was in a similar situation a year ago with a 'forex' site. They showed me all these green numbers, then wanted a 'withdrawal fee.' I paid it, then they asked for an 'anti-money laundering fee.' I'd already sent them about 3,000 CAD total. Eventually, they just stopped responding. It's soul-crushing. The best advice I can give is: stop all contact. Block their number and email. Report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Learn from it, unfortunately.

Sounds like a classic scam. Legitimate brokers have transparent fee structures and don't ask for separate payments like 'clearing fees' to release profits. They deduct their cut or charge commissions as agreed. If you're trading with a firm not regulated by a reputable authority like ASIC or the FCA, you're exposed to these kinds of risks. A good step is to always check the regulator's register for the firm's license. Don't send them any more money. The money you've already sent might be gone, but don't let them take more.

Oh là là, that sounds truly worrying! Your partner is absolutely right to be suspicious. This 'clearing fee' sounds like a major red flag for a scam. Real brokers typically handle all fees within your account or in clearly stated terms. They would not ask for an upfront payment to release profits you've already earned. Please do not send them any more money. If you can, check if the broker is regulated by the AMF in France or another European regulator.

Yeah, that's a known scam. They invent these fees to bleed you dry. 'Clearing fee,' 'tax deposit,' 'verification fee' – it's all the same nonsense. Real brokers are regulated. If this firm isn't regulated by, say, the FCA or another major authority, then you're dealing with criminals. Report them to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and also to Action Fraud. Don't send another euro. The money is almost certainly lost, but stop feeding the beast.

Ugh, another one. I lost about R15,000 to something similar last year. They called it an 'international transfer processing fee.' Sounded so official. My husband kept saying it wasn't right, but I was so excited about the 'profits.' Never saw a cent. They just kept asking for more. The only fee you should ever pay is a commission or spread that's clearly stated *before* you trade. Don't send them anything else. Report it to the FSCA.