My unregulated forex broker, 'InvestPulse Pro', is demanding a 'commission reversal fee'. Scam?
hi everyone, i'm feeling pretty sick to my stomach about this. about two months ago i got into forex trading after seeing some really flashy ads on instagram. ended up with this broker called 'InvestPulse Pro' – yeah, i know, red flag one, it's unregulated. everything seemed okay for a bit, i actually saw some profits on their platform, nothing crazy but enough to feel good. tried to withdraw like 3,000 euros last week and they're saying i owe a 'commission reversal fee' because my trades generated too much profit compared to their internal metrics. like, what? never heard of such a thing. is this a new trick or am i just completely screwed? i'm in amsterdam, btw, so thinking if i need to talk to someone here regarding this.
30 Answers
Levi, I'm really sorry you're going through this. The 'commission reversal fee' for making 'too much profit' is a classic symptom of a boiler room scam. These types of unregulated brokers, like your InvestPulse Pro, usually operate from offshore locations specifically to evade legitimate financial oversight. The 'profits' you saw on their platform were likely fabricated to encourage more deposits and to bait you into paying these bogus fees.
My strong advice, based on experience helping others, is this:
- Do NOT pay the fee. Any additional money sent will be lost.
- Gather all evidence: Screenshots of your communication, transaction records, their website, etc.
- Report it: In the Netherlands, you should report this to the AFM (Autoriteit Financiële Markten). Even though they might not directly recover your funds since InvestPulse Pro isn't regulated by them, they can issue warnings and coordinate with international bodies. Also, report to your bank and initiate a chargeback if possible, especially if you used a credit card or certain debit card schemes. Time is critical for chargebacks.
- Beware of recovery scams: After you've been scammed, you'll likely be targeted by 'recovery agents' or 'hackers' promising to get your money back for a fee. These are usually second-stage scams preying on victims. Never engage with them.
It's a tough lesson, but the key takeaway is: always verify a broker's regulation before depositing any funds, especially when dealing with high-risk products like forex or CFDs. A quick search on the AFM's or FCA's website for their registration is crucial.
oh man, Levi, that sounds completely like a scam tactic. 'commission reversal fee' because you made *too much profit*? lol, no legit broker would ever say that. it's a made-up fee to bleed more money out of you. they're trying to get you to deposit more to 'pay' this fee, and guess what? the money will just vanish, and you won't get anything back. these unregulated firms like InvestPulse Pro just invent charges. your profits on their platform are likely not real anyway; they're just numbers on a screen they control. for future reference, always check if a broker is regulated by a reputable body like the AFM here in the Netherlands, or the FCA in the UK. if they're not, walk away, fast. i'm really sorry this happened to you.
I am so sorry to hear this, Levi. It's truly heartbreaking when these things happen. Please, please don't pay that fee. As Eva said, it's a hundred percent a scam. They just want to drain more money from you. The emotional toll of realizing you've been scammed is heavy, so please be kind to yourself. You're not alone, many people have fallen for similar tricks. Focus on reporting it wherever you can, even if the chances of recovery are slim. Sometimes the authorities can at least issue warnings about these fraudulent entities. Hang in there.
Bloody hell, Levi. That's a classic example of these cowboy outfits making up fees. 'Commission reversal fee'? That's a new one even for me, and I've seen some utterly ridiculous ones. It's just a pretext to get more funds from you. They'll keep coming up with new 'fees' – 'tax fees', 'compliance fees', 'account verification fees' – until you either run out of money or wake up to the scam. Do NOT send them another cent. That money will be lost too. From what you've described, those 'profits' are pure fiction. You're dealing with fraudsters who will never let you withdraw.
Oh wow, Levi, this sounds exactly like what happened to a friend of mine, though with a different broker name. They kept making up fees. First it was some 'international transfer tax', then a 'risk assessment fee', and it just never ended. My friend eventually paid three different fees, thinking *each time* it was the final one, and never saw a single euro back from their supposed 'profits'. It broke their trust completely. Please, don't fall for this. It's a psychological trick to get you to invest more emotional and financial resources into a lost cause. Cut your losses now.
Yeah, I'm with everyone else here, man. 'Commission reversal fee' is absolutely a made-up charge. I lost about 4k myself last year with a broker called FXChoice. Same story, saw profits, tried to withdraw, then it was 'unexpected regulatory fees' or some crap. I argued with them for weeks, and they just blocked my account eventually. It's a nasty game they play. Wish I'd checked the regulation sooner, but you get caught up in the hype, you know? Just learn from it and move on, unfortunately.
Levi, mate, echoing what everyone else has said. This is pure scam. I got done over by one myself, not FXChoice, but a similar type, OptionStarsGlobal. They had me believing I was making a fortune, then when I tried to pull out a few grand, suddenly there was a 'profit tax' from some made-up offshore regulator. I paid it, stupidly, because I was so desperate to get my money. Of course, the withdrawal never happened, and then they asked for another 'admin fee'. It's a deep rabbit hole. Cut your losses, report them to anyone who will listen, like Action Fraud here in the UK or the AFM. But don't send any more cash.
Hmm, 'commission reversal fee'... that's quite creative, even for these types. I mean, they just keep coming up with new names for their scams, don't they? It's not a real thing, buddy. No legitimate financial institution demands fees because you made *too much profit*. Quite the opposite. This whole thing smells like rotten fish. You should probably accept that the money you put in is gone. Any money you send now to 'fix' this will just join the rest.
Man, this sucks, I know how you feel. I got caught out by a similar thing, but it was with crypto and an 'unregulated' exchange they pushed. They called it a 'liquidity provision fee' when I tried to pull out my 'profits'. It felt so real, you know? Like, the website looked professional, the 'advisors' were friendly. I ended up losing about three months' worth of savings. Don't fall for any more of their tricks, Levi. Just cut your losses. It's a hard pill to swallow, but better to lose what you've lost than to keep throwing good money after bad.
Hey Levi, I'm really sorry to hear you're going through this. It's absolutely sickening how these scam artists operate. 'Commission reversal fee' is garbage, plain and simple. It's designed to make you panic and send more cash. As others have said, don't pay it. The best thing you can do now is compile everything, every screenshot, every email, every chat log, and report them to the relevant authorities in your country. Even if it doesn't get your money back, it helps others not fall into the same trap. Sending positive vibes your way.
Yeah, that screams scam. Unregulated brokers, especially ones that popped up from Instagram ads, are almost always dodgy. The 'commission reversal fee' is a classic way to trap you. They don't want you to withdraw anything. They might even invent more fees. The AFM (Autoriteit Financiële Markten) is the regulator in the Netherlands; you can check their registry to see if InvestPulse Pro is even *supposed* to be operating there. If not, that's another big red flag.
Ugh, I know this feeling. Happened to me years ago with a crypto thing, not forex, but same vibe. They hit me with a 'tax' I supposedly owed before I could get my *own* money out. Told me if I didn't pay it within 48 hours, it would go to collections. I panicked and sent them another chunk. Surprise surprise, never saw it again. Ended up losing like five figures. My advice? Cut your losses if you can, and NEVER send them another cent. That 'fee' is pure BS.
Two months trading? And they found a 'commission reversal fee' after you made a profit? This is so textbook. They lure you in with easy wins, then make it impossible to cash out. It's a common setup for these shady operations. They probably don't even have real forex licenses. Did you cross-reference their supposed registration with any actual financial regulatory bodies?
Oh wow, this sounds awful, and unfortunately very familiar. I'm in Amsterdam too, and I've heard similar stories. That 'commission reversal fee' is just a made-up obstacle. They want to scare you or get more money from you. Seriously, don't pay it. Try to contact the AFM; they might not be able to get your money back directly, but they *do* maintain a warning list of scam brokers. Reporting them could help others.
Mate, I've been there. A few years back, after a decent run trading on Olymp Trade (don't judge, I was young and dumb!), they suddenly slapped me with a massive 'withdrawal fee' and said I needed to deposit WAY more to 'verify'. Total scam. They had me convinced for weeks. Eventually, my brother-in-law talked some sense into me. Told me to just walk away. Took the hit, lesson learned hard. Don't send them any more cash, that's the main thing.
This is a classic scam tactic. The 'commission reversal fee' is not a real thing in legitimate forex trading. They are designed to prevent you from withdrawing your money, especially after you've shown profit. Unregulated brokers are a huge risk. The people behind these operations often disappear once they've taken enough money. Always check if a broker is regulated by a reputable authority like the FCA in the UK or ASIC in Australia. Never deposit money with an unregulated entity.
This is extremely concerning and sounds like a common scam targeting individuals interested in trading. In many cases, these unregulated brokers employ tactics to prevent withdrawals once profits are evident. 'Commission reversal fees' are often fabricated charges. My advice would be to cease all communication and avoid sending any further funds. Reporting such activities to relevant financial authorities, such as the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) if they have any ties here, might be an option, though recovery is often difficult.
Oh god, I'm so sorry you're going through this. I got caught by a 'payment processing fee' scam with an online betting site once. They told me I had to pay a fee to unlock my winnings. Nearly sent them the money, but my partner talked me down. Said it sounded fishy. Thankfully, I didn't lose much because I hadn't deposited a huge amount initially. These scammers prey on the excitement of winning. Just walk away, don't send more money. It's gone.
This is a very common scam scenario in the unregulated trading space. The 'commission reversal fee' is a phantom charge designed to bleed you dry or prevent you from accessing your funds altogether. Unregulated brokers like this InvestPulse Pro often use social media to lure victims. If they are not registered with a competent authority like MAS (Monetary Authority of Singapore), they are operating illegally. Do not pay them anything further. Your best bet is to report them to the police and any financial watchdog you can find.
That sounds incredibly stressful. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of trading and trust the platform. Don’t beat yourself up too much. These 'fees' are just made up to keep your money. I’m glad you’re reaching out for advice before sending more. Keep all communication records, that might be helpful if you decide to report it to the authorities later. Hang in there!
Happened to me with a forex broker that wasn't regulated in South Africa either. They kept moving the goalposts. First it was a 'withdrawal tax', then a 'compliance fee'. Total nonsense. I ended up losing about R20,000. It was devastating. The worst part is they make it sound so professional. My advice? Forget the money. Just block them, report them to ICASA if you can, and warn everyone you know. Don't let them do this to anyone else.
I'm in a similar situation right now, though not with forex. It was a platform promising high returns on 'alternative investments'. They told me I had to pay a 'capital gains tax' upfront to withdraw my profits. It was thousands! I actually paid some of it, thinking it was real. Then they asked for *more*. My sister found out and she freaked. She said it was definitely a scam. They haven't responded to me since I stopped 'paying'. I feel numb.
Oh dear, this sounds exactly like the type of scam that is becoming more prevalent. Unregulated brokers often invent fees to trap their clients. The 'commission reversal fee' is a fabricated charge. They are banking on you being scared or desperate enough to pay it. Please do not send them any more money. Report them to the relevant financial authority in your country. For instance, if they claim to have any presence regulated by the UAE Central Bank or DFSA, you can report them there.
This is almost certainly a scam. The whole premise of a 'commission reversal fee' based on the *amount* of profit is absurd. Legitimate brokers charge commissions or spreads, yes, but they don't penalize you for being successful. It's a classic bait-and-switch. Did you do any due diligence on InvestPulse Pro *before* depositing? Like checking registries? The AMF in France, for example, has a very clear list of authorized firms. Absence from such lists is a huge red flag.
Yeah, that sounds like a complete load of BS. A 'commission reversal fee'? Never heard of that one. Sounds like they just want more money. These 'get rich quick' schemes advertised on social media are almost always scams designed to take your cash. They might even give you fake profits on their platform to make you feel secure. Did you check if they are registered with BaFin in Germany? Probably not. Don’t pay them.
I fell for something similar. I put money into what I thought was a stock trading platform, but it was unregulated. When I tried to get my initial investment back, they said I owed a 'VAT processing fee'. It was hundreds of euros! I was so scared. I told my dad and he immediately said it was a scam. He said if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. I lost the money I put in, thankfully not more. Reporting them seemed impossible.
This is exactly how they get you. They make you think you're making money, then invent a reason why you can't have it. That 'commission reversal fee' is a fabricated charge. I lost about $5,000 to a similar scam last year. They kept asking for more money for 'clearance' and 'taxes'. It's a horrible feeling. Just cut all contact. Don't send them anything. You probably won't see that €3,000 again, sadly.
Warning: This is a textbook scam. Unregulated brokers are rife with these types of fraudulent practices. The 'commission reversal fee' is not a recognized financial instrument and is solely a fabrication to extort money from you. They operate outside the law. Do not engage further. Check if the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) has any warnings issued against them, or any similar entities. Reporting these scams is crucial, even if recovery is unlikely.
Yep, sounds like a scam. Instagram ads for trading platforms? Big red flag. They show you fake profits to hook you, then hit you with impossible fees when you try to cash out. It’s a common trick. I've seen it happen to friends. They invent these fees like 'regulatory compliance charges' or 'account upgrades'. Just ignore them and don't send any more money. They prey on people’s greed and hope. You're lucky you only tried to withdraw €3k.
Oh man, I feel for you. I got scammed by a fake investment app that looked legit. They kept saying I needed to pay a 'holding fee' to release my winnings. It was like $1000. I was so stressed but ended up not paying it because my friend told me to look up 'investment app scams'. A lot of them use the same language: secret fees, taxes, etc. I think you're probably dealing with the same thing. Don't pay them. You might want to file a report with the FTC, they track these kinds of online scams.

