My 'broker' FXChoice is asking for a 'risk management premium' to release my crypto profits. Legit or scam?
Ok, so I got into crypto trading a few months back, saw this ad for FXChoice and their 'amazing returns', figured I'd try it. I put in a bit of money, and honestly, the profits looked really good on their platform, like way too good. I tried to withdraw about 4000 EUR last week, and suddenly they're saying I need to pay a 'risk management premium' of 15% of my total profit before they can process the withdrawal. They say it's for 'volatility protection' and 'ensuring smooth transactions'.
I've never heard of this before with any legit financial service. It sounds fishy, honestly. Is this a new thing with crypto, or is it just another way these unregulated brokers try to steal your money? I'm in France, lost sleep over this. Every time I ask for proof or a legal document, they just send vague terms and conditions. What should I do?
10 Answers
Ugh, feel for you, Raphael. This scam is SO common. I lost about $7k to a similar outfit last year, *not* FXChoice but the pattern was identical. 'Profits' suddenly appeared, then when I tried to withdraw, they wanted a 'transfer authentication fee.' Total BS. I paid it, thinking I'd get my money, and then surprise, they wanted another fee. Don't fall for it like I did. Every fee is just more money going down the drain. You're never going to see those 'profits.' Cut your losses now. It hurts, I know.
Raphael, ngl, this is a classic scam tactic. A legitimate, regulated broker would never ask for extra fees AFTER you've made a profit to allow you to withdraw your own money. The FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) in the UK has issued warnings about unregulated forex and CFD brokers, and FXChoice has often been flagged. This 'risk management premium' is just another made-up hurdle to extract more money from you.
They'll keep coming up with new 'fees' – 'tax clearance', 'compliance bond', 'anti-money laundering fee' – anything to keep you paying. The money shown in your account isn't real; it's just numbers on a screen designed to trick you into believing you've made a profit. Report them to your local financial authority (in France, that'd be the AMF, though cross-border recovery might be tricky) and consider a chargeback with your bank if you used a card. Stop all communication with them immediately.
Honestly, sounds like you got caught in the usual web. 'Risk management premium'? Please. That's just a fancy way of saying 'give us more money'. If they're unregulated, which FXChoice often is, chances are your money was gone the moment you transferred it. People need to stop falling for these 'amazing returns' ads. If it sounds too good to be true, it always is. You won't get your money back by paying them more, you'll just hand them more. Live and learn, I guess.
Oh no, Raphael, this is a very common trick now with these fake brokers. My friend here in Singapore almost fell for something similar, they wanted a 'profit release fee' or something equally made-up. We checked with MAS (Monetary Authority of Singapore) and they confirmed these are almost always scams. The money you see on their platform, it's not real. It's just numbers to make you think you're rich so you'll throw more good money after bad. Don't pay them another cent, please.
This is textbook advanced fee fraud, Raphel. Any legitimate financial institution, especially a regulated broker, would deduct any applicable fees (which are clearly disclosed upfront) from your withdrawal amount, not demand an advance payment for 'risk management' or any other fictitious reason. The fact you're dealing with FXChoice, which has a dubious reputation and numerous warnings from regulators like the UK's FCA, further solidifies this as a scam.
Your best course of action is to cease all communication with them. Do not pay this 'premium' or any other fees they invent. Consider filing a report with the AMF in France and pursuing a chargeback through your bank if you deposited funds via credit card or even a bank transfer. Gather all your evidence: screenshots, communication logs, transaction records. Unfortunately, recovering funds from such entities is exceedingly difficult, but reporting them can help prevent others from falling victim. Prioritize securing any personal information they might have.
Absolutely a scam, Raphael. No question. Legit brokers like those regulated by the FCA or BaFin already have robust risk management frameworks in place, and they would never ask a client for an upfront "premium" to release their own funds. Your money is being held hostage, and every 'fee' they ask for is just them trying to empty your pockets further. You've identified a classic red flag: their refusal to provide transparent, legally sound documentation for these fees. It's a hallmark of an unregulated, fraudulent operation.
Same exact thing happened to me last year, but with a different 'broker' that looked identical to FXChoice. Saw an ad, put in like $500 AUD, then they said I made 3k! Exciting right? Tried to withdraw and got hit with a 'tax compliance fee' before they could release it. I was so mad. I ended up losing the initial $500, but I didn't pay the 'fee'. It sucked but at least I didn't lose more. Don't send them another euro. The money isn't real, it's just fake numbers on the screen.
This is definitely a scam, Raphael. Happened to a colleague of mine from Amsterdam. They were with some offshore broker, not FXChoice, but the story was identical. 'Amazing profits', then a sudden 'security fee' or 'regulatory tax' to withdraw. She ended up paying a few hundred euros extra out of desperation, but they just ghosted her after that. It's truly heartbreaking to see them play on people's hopes. Don't send them ANY money. Cut your losses, block them, and report it to the AFM here or your local authority.
Come on, 'risk management premium'? That's just made up. Every time you see a broker asking you for a fee to *withdraw* your own profits, especially when they're unregulated or offshore like FXChoice, it's a huge red flag. They just want more of your cash. These 'profits' you're seeing are probably not real anyway. Don't be fooled into paying them more money, you'll just dig yourself a deeper hole. It's a tough lesson but hopefully you can block them and move on without losing more.
Raphael, you've encountered one of the most prevalent and insidious forms of investment fraud. The 'risk management premium' is a fabricated term designed to extract further funds. Unregulated brokers like FXChoice operate outside the purview of bodies such as the FCA or ASIC, meaning they have no obligation to adhere to ethical financial practices. That 15% 'premium' is pure extortion. The money you purportedly 'made' on their platform is not real; it's just manipulated figures to create a false sense of success. Your immediate priority should be to cease all communication. Do not pay any more money to them. Engage with your bank to explore chargeback options for your initial deposits, explaining that you've been a victim of fraud. While full recovery is challenging, reporting this to your national financial authority can add to the body of evidence against these scammers and help others.

