The Technology Cannot Be Verified, but the Firm Can
Names that promise trading by artificial intelligence appear regularly on the FCA Warning List. The list includes Trading AI Tools, and in October 2026 the FCA added Pilotrade AI.
An investor cannot inspect the software, test its results or confirm that it exists. The firm that takes the money is a business with a legal name, a website and a bank account, and every check should start with that firm.
The Firm Behind the Platform Needs Authorisation
Managing investments for a customer, dealing in investments and offering trading in contracts for difference are regulated activities in the UK. Describing the trading as automated does not change the requirement: the firm that runs the service must be authorised by the FCA, and a cryptoasset business must be registered with the FCA.
Find the legal name of the operating firm, rather than the brand name of the platform, and search for that name on the FCA Register. Confirm that the firm's permissions cover the service offered and that the website you were given is the one the Register lists. A firm that is absent from the Warning List may still be unauthorised, because the list contains only the firms the FCA has already identified.
A Dashboard Shows What the Platform Chooses to Show
The FCA warns that fraudulent investment sites may manipulate their software to fake prices and returns. A balance that rises every day, and even a small first withdrawal, can be produced by the scheme itself and show nothing about real trading.
A request to pay a fee, a tax or a release charge before money can be withdrawn is a common sign that the money will not be returned.
Never Share Your Screen or Install Software for a Caller
Callers promoting trading platforms often ask the investor to install remote access software so that they can help to open an account. The FCA reported more than £25m lost to scams of this kind between January 2021 and March 2022, and its advice is that a legitimate firm will not ask a customer to share their screen.
Software of this kind can give the caller access to online banking and personal records on the device. If such software has already been installed, disconnect the device from the internet and call your bank.
Check the Account Before Any Money Moves
Before transferring money, use your bank's Confirmation of Payee check to confirm that the receiving account is held in the exact name of the authorised firm. A request to pay in cryptocurrency, into a personal account or to a company with a different name is a reason to stop.
If money has already been sent, call your bank on 159 straight away and report the fraud to Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040, or to Police Scotland on 101 in Scotland.
How MetaAshes Examines This
A MetaAshes assessment cross-references a firm's details against the official record in a single pass. For this question, the most relevant checks include:
- Authorisation status
- Scope of regulatory permissions
- FCA Warning List screening
- Official website on record
- Domain registration age
- Method of first contact
- Promised returns
- Withdrawal and release fees
- Remote access requests
- Payee name verification
Frequently Asked
Are AI trading bots legal in the UK?
Automated trading software is not prohibited, but a firm that manages investments or trades for UK customers must be authorised by the FCA. Check the operating firm on the FCA Register before investing.
Does a small withdrawal prove that a platform is genuine?
No. A fraudulent platform may allow a small early withdrawal to build trust before larger deposits are requested.
Can MetaAshes check an AI trading platform?
Yes. An assessment compares the firm's name, website and payment details with the FCA Register and Warning List, the company record and the age of the website, and reports any detail that does not agree with the others.
This guide is provided for general information and does not constitute financial or legal advice.