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The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has issued a stark warning to investors in Contracts for Difference (CFDs), urging them not to give up vital consumer protections that can prevent significant financial losses.
CFDs allow investors to speculate on price movements of assets without owning them, but the FCA says some firms are using high-pressure tactics to persuade individuals to classify themselves as professional clients — a move that strips away key safeguards including leverage caps and loss limits.
According to the regulator, these protections stop nearly 400,000 people each year from losing more than their original investment and provide an estimated £267 million to £451 million in total protection annually.
The FCA also highlighted an increase in misleading promotions from “finfluencers” — social media personalities who promote trading or investment schemes. Many are allegedly encouraging consumers to copy trades, buy into managed accounts, or pay for trading signals offered by unregulated offshore firms. In one case, more than 90,000 people lost £75 million over four years through a single firm.
“CFDs are complex, high-risk products. The protections given to retail investors under our rules save UK consumers millions each year. We are concerned that some firms are trying to get people to invest more than they can afford to lose. Investors should be very wary of CFD firms attempting to bypass our rules in this way and of those on social media touting investments which look too good to be true.”
— Mark Francis, Director of Sell-Side Markets, FCA
The regulator reminded firms that pushing elective professional categorisation or redirecting retail clients offshore is a breach of its rules. Enforcement action will follow for those failing to comply.
The FCA’s InvestSmart campaign continues to educate retail investors on how to identify risky or misleading offers. The regulator also plans to launch a consultation in the coming months to refine client categorisation rules — aiming to ensure protections apply where needed, while offering flexibility for genuinely professional investors.
Since 2019, the FCA has restricted the sale of CFDs to retail clients, following widespread losses and evidence of poor conduct among some providers.
In June 2025, the FCA coordinated an international crackdown on illegal finfluencers, resulting in three arrests, seven cease-and-desist letters, and 50 public warnings.
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