The Dark Side of IXBroker: Fake Claims & Hidden Risks
Why IXBroker is a Scam Trap for Iranian Users: A Detailed Investigation of Risks and Deceptive Tactics
In recent years, the number of fraudulent brokers has skyrocketed, primarily benefiting their owners while leaving investors in financial ruin. IXBroker is one such broker that actively targets Iranian users, leveraging Iranian influencers to attract unsuspecting investors. Upon investigating IXBroker, several red flags emerged, raising serious concerns about its credibility and trustworthiness. This article highlights these warning signs and exposes the deceptive practices employed by this broker.
1. IXBroker’s Scam Score: 22/100 on ScamMinder
ScamMinder, an AI-powered scam detection platform, assigns scores to websites based on their legitimacy. A score close to 100 indicates a high level of trust, while a lower score signals potential fraud. IXBroker received a scam score of 22/100, categorizing it as a highly suspicious and untrustworthy investment platform. ScamMinder warns users to exercise extreme caution when dealing with IXBroker and advises verifying its licensing before investing.
2. False Claims of Global Presence
Despite claiming a global user base, IXBroker’s website is only available in Persian and English. A search on Google Trends reveals that the term “IXBroker” is primarily searched within Iran, contradicting its claims of being an international platform. This indicates that IXBroker’s primary target audience is Iranians, making its global presence a deceptive marketing tactic.
3. Lack of Legitimate Regulatory Licenses
A legally operating broker must be regulated by financial authorities in the jurisdictions where it offers services. IXBroker falsely claims to be affiliated with FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), ASIC (Australia), and CFTC (USA). However, investigations into these regulatory bodies found no valid license or registration for IXBroker. Instead, the broker holds a registration from Saint Lucia, an offshore zone known for lax financial regulations and its willingness to serve sanctioned countries like Iran.
Regulatory Searches for IX Broker:
- FCA (UK): No records found.
- CySEC (Cyprus): No records found.
- ASIC (Australia): No records found.
- NFA (USA): No records found.
- Saint Lucia: Offshore registration confirmed.
The lack of valid licenses means users have no legal protection in case of financial disputes.
4. High-Risk Trading Conditions
IXBroker promotes highly speculative and risky trading conditions that increase the likelihood of users losing their funds. Some of the major concerns include:
- Excessive leverage (1:300): Extremely high leverage levels expose traders to significant risks.
- Unregulated CFD trading: Users do not own actual assets but merely speculate on price movements, which can be manipulated by the broker.
- Withdrawal restrictions: Many users report difficulties withdrawing funds after making profits.
- Unilateral rule changes: The broker reserves the right to alter trading conditions arbitrarily.
5. Suspicious Rial Payment System
As an allegedly international broker, IXBroker should not be accepting Iranian Rials (IRR) due to international sanctions and financial regulations. However, the broker has devised a highly suspicious payment system involving multiple intermediaries:
- Users initiate payments via a Telegram bot.
- They are redirected to third-party exchange services such as Iranians Mandegar Exchange and Kimia Exchange.
- Transactions are processed via ZarinPal, a popular Iranian payment gateway, under the disguise of gold trading or online shopping.
This convoluted system raises concerns about money laundering and the potential for fund misappropriation.
6. Heavy Promotion via Influencers & Social Media
IXBroker aggressively sponsors celebrities and influencers to market its platform to Iranian audiences. Prominent figures promoting IXBroker include:
- X Band (Music group)
- Farzad Vajihehi (Previously associated with other fraudulent brokers)
- Amin Fardin (Infamous for promoting Ponzi schemes)
- Sasy Mankan (Promoted illegal gambling sites in the past)
- Sina Sarlak (Iranian singer)
- Pouria Putak (Influential rapper)
- Alara Entertainment & Alara Chapters (Content production company linked to IXBroker)
Most of these influencers have been previously involved in promoting scams, illegal gambling, and financial fraud.
7. Paid Press Releases & Fake Reputation Building
Fraudulent brokers often publish sponsored press releases to appear legitimate. IXBroker follows the same strategy by paying for news articles that claim it is a “trusted global trading platform.” These articles, however, include disclaimers stating that they are paid advertisements, meaning they hold no factual credibility. This deceptive tactic is commonly used to manipulate search engine results and drown out negative reviews. Archive–Archive–Archive
8. The True Identity of IXBroker’s Owner
Farzad Vajihehi, the known owner of IXBroker, holds a Turkish passport under the name Savas Sabanci. Additionally, according to UK Company House records, he is also a citizen of Vanuatu. This raises further concerns about his activities, as obtaining Vanuatu citizenship is a common method used by financial fraudsters to evade international regulatory scrutiny. The use of multiple identities and offshore registrations suggests a deliberate effort to conceal his involvement in financial scams.
Furthermore, the same address provided for IXBroker in the UK is also used by a registered company called Alara Chapters Media LTD. Alara Chapters is linked to Farzad Vajihehi’s wife, who runs Alara Entertainment, a company that has actively sponsored Iranian influencers both inside and outside of Iran. This interconnected structure of businesses and sponsorships suggests a coordinated effort to legitimize IXBroker while using media influence to gain credibility and attract unsuspecting investors.
Conclusion: IXBroker is a High-Risk Scam
Based on the lack of valid licenses, misleading global presence claims, high-risk trading conditions, suspicious payment systems, and aggressive influencer marketing, IXBroker exhibits all the hallmarks of a fraudulent brokerage scheme. The following key points summarize why IXBroker is a scam trap:
- Low ScamMinder score (22/100) indicating high risk.
- False claims of international legitimacy.
- No valid regulatory licenses.
- Unregulated, high-risk trading practices.
- Shady payment systems using Iranian Rial.
- Heavy reliance on influencers with scam backgrounds.
- Use of paid press releases to manipulate reputation.
Final Warning about IX Broker:
Investors should avoid IX Broker at all costs. The broker cannot be trusted and is designed to exploit Iranian traders through deceptive marketing and lack of financial oversight. If you have already invested, withdraw your funds immediately and report any suspicious activity to relevant authorities.
Always verify a broker’s credentials before investing, and never trust financial advice from influencers without proper financial backgrounds.
