Our Verification Methodology
A transparent, evidence-based approach to reviewing traders. Trading Integrity Bureau is an independent review initiative operated by Signal Core s.r.o. — not a government or regulatory body.
Our Approach
Every investigation is built on three foundational principles that ensure the integrity and reliability of our findings.
Evidence-Based
Every verdict is supported by verifiable evidence. We rely on trading statements, verified platform accounts, regulatory records, and documented user experiences. We never issue verdicts based on rumors, hearsay, or personal opinions.
Independent
We have no financial relationships with any trader, broker, or platform we investigate. We do not accept payment for favorable reviews. Our funding comes from Signal Core s.r.o., ensuring complete editorial independence.
Transparent Ownership
IsYourTraderReal is operated by Signal Core s.r.o., founded by an active trading mentor. We believe this industry expertise strengthens our investigations. To ensure objectivity, all verdicts follow a standardized methodology with documented evidence — no verdict can be influenced by personal relationships. Full editorial independence is maintained through strict internal protocols.
Investigation Levels
Not every case requires the same depth. We use a tiered investigation system to allocate resources efficiently while ensuring thoroughness where it matters most.
Basic Screening
Initial assessment of publicly available information. This level applies to all submissions and helps us determine whether a deeper investigation is warranted.
Deep Verification
Comprehensive investigation with direct contact. We reach out to the trader, request verification via third-party platforms or read-only credentials, and verify their claimed performance against actual data.
Full Audit
Reserved for high-profile cases, suspected large-scale fraud, or traders with significant reach. This is our most thorough investigation tier with extended timelines and comprehensive documentation.
Evidence Types We Examine
Our investigations draw on multiple data sources to build a comprehensive, accurate picture of each trader's legitimacy.
Trading Statements
We verify live account statements through verified platforms and read-only access credentials. We check for demo vs. live accounts, deposit/withdrawal patterns, equity curves, drawdown, and consistency with claimed returns.
Verified Platform Accounts
Myfxbook, FX Blue, and AlphaVerification provide independently verifiable performance data. We cross-reference these with the trader's public claims to detect discrepancies.
Community Reports
Reports from group members, former subscribers, and affected investors. We collect testimonials, chat logs, screenshots, and payment evidence from multiple independent sources.
Social Proof & Reviews
We scan Trustpilot, ForexPeaceArmy, Reddit, Twitter/X, and trading forums for genuine user reviews. We look for patterns in complaints and check for fake or purchased positive reviews.
Regulatory Records
We search FCA, CFTC/NFA, ASIC, CySEC, BaFin, and other regulator databases for registrations, warnings, enforcement actions, and disciplinary proceedings related to the trader or their entities.
Digital Footprint
Domain registration records, website history (Wayback Machine), associated entities, payment processor information, and any previously used names or identities connected to the subject.
Verification Criteria
Each investigation concludes with one of four possible verdicts. Here is what it takes to receive each status and the specific criteria we evaluate.
Confirmed Legitimate
All of the following must be met:
- Live trading account verified via third-party platform or read-only access credentials
- Performance claims are consistent with actual trading data
- No regulatory warnings or enforcement actions found
- No pattern of unresolved complaints from users
- Trader cooperated with the investigation
- Identity and business entity confirmed
Does Not Meet Verification Standards
One or more of the following must be present:
- Fabricated or manipulated trading results
- Fake screenshots or doctored performance data
- Documented pattern of complaints (multiple user reports)
- Regulatory warnings or enforcement actions
- Ponzi or pyramid scheme indicators
- Refusal to provide verifiable accounts combined with other red flags
Investigation In Progress
The trader has been submitted and our team is actively investigating. This status is temporary and will be updated to a final verdict once the investigation is complete. Active investigations typically take 48 hours.
Insufficient Evidence
Assigned when we cannot reach a definitive verdict based on available evidence. Common reasons:
- Trader did not respond to our contact attempts
- Refused to cooperate without providing a reason
- Conflicting evidence that cannot be resolved
- Insufficient data points for a fair assessment
Note: An Inconclusive verdict should itself be considered a warning sign, as legitimate traders typically cooperate with verification requests.
Platform-Specific Verification
Different verification platforms require different approaches. Here is how we use each one to authenticate trading performance.
Myfxbook
The most widely used performance verification platform for MetaTrader accounts.
- Verify account is live, not demo
- Check "verified" badge status
- Analyze equity curve for manipulation signs
- Review deposit/withdrawal history
- Cross-reference with trader's public claims
- Check account age and trading period
FX Blue
An alternative verification platform with detailed analytics and real-time tracking.
- Confirm live account connection
- Verify broker name and account type
- Analyze trade-by-trade history
- Check for abnormal patterns (e.g., only wins)
- Review risk metrics and drawdown data
- Validate claimed timeframe of results
Alpha Verification
Alpha Performance Verification Services — a boutique, independent GIPS verification firm established in 2010 in Richmond, Virginia (USA). One of the five largest GIPS verification firms in the United States, serving clients managing from under $1M to over $15B in assets.
- GIPS firm-wide verification — compliance with all composite construction requirements
- GIPS performance examination — composite-specific accuracy audit
- Model & strategy verification — back-tested and hypothetical track records
- Independent Verifier's Reports with institutional-grade credibility
- Staff includes CPAs, CFA Charterholders, and CIPM designation holders
- Verification is their sole business — no conflicts of interest
Trading Integrity Bureau
An independent verification organization for trading firms worldwide. TIB's mission is to establish a global standard for operational integrity in trading. Not a consultancy, not a ratings agency — a pure verification body.
- Evidence-based review of trading infrastructure and payout records
- Independent assessment of operational controls against integrity standards
- Public registry of verified firms with transparent verification reports
- Six verification dimensions: payout integrity, rule enforcement, capital reserves, operational controls, data integrity, transparency
- Ongoing monitoring — certification can be revoked for non-compliance
- No firm can pay for a favorable result
Direct Investor Passwords
For MetaTrader accounts without third-party verification, we use read-only access credentials.
- Connect directly to the trading account
- Read-only access (no trading capability)
- Full trade history and equity verification
- Confirm broker, leverage, and account type
- Detect account padding or manipulation
- Verify account ownership
Other Platforms
Our methodology is not limited to the platforms listed above. We may use any additional verification platform, analytics tool, or data source that we deem appropriate for a specific investigation.
- Any platform providing verifiable, tamper-resistant trading data
- Broker-specific reporting tools and dashboards
- Prop firm evaluation and payout verification systems
- Third-party analytics and risk assessment providers
- Platform selection is at the sole discretion of the investigating team
- New platforms are continuously evaluated and added as the industry evolves
Aligned with GIPS International Standards
Our verification methodology is guided by the principles of the Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS) — the globally recognized gold standard for investment performance reporting.
Global Investment Performance Standards
Created by CFA Institute — adopted across 54 markets worldwide
GIPS are a set of voluntary, ethical standards created and maintained by the CFA Institute (formerly AIMR). First published in 1999, the current version — GIPS 2020 — is effective since December 31, 2020. Over 1,600 organizations worldwide claim GIPS compliance, including all of the top 25 global asset managers. The standards are built on two foundational principles: fair representation and full disclosure.
While GIPS was designed for institutional investment management firms, the core principles are directly applicable to verifying retail trader performance. Our methodology adapts these institutional-grade standards to the world of forex, crypto, and CFD trading — ensuring the same level of rigor that pension funds and institutional investors demand from their asset managers.
How GIPS Principles Guide Our Verification
Fair Representation
Performance must be presented in a way that does not mislead. No selective reporting, no survivorship bias. We apply this by requiring traders to show all accounts, not just cherry-picked winners.
Full Disclosure
All material information must be disclosed — fees, calculation methods, risks, strategy changes. We require traders to disclose their fee structure, risk parameters, and any material changes to their trading approach.
Composite Construction
GIPS requires all portfolios to be included in composites — preventing firms from hiding poor-performing accounts. We apply the same principle: traders must disclose all active accounts, not just their best one.
Standardized Calculation
GIPS prescribes time-weighted returns (TWR) as the default method. We evaluate performance using standardized metrics — net returns, max drawdown, Sharpe ratio — ensuring apples-to-apples comparison across traders.
Independent Verification
GIPS encourages third-party verification of compliance. Our entire model is built on this principle — we are the independent third party that audits and verifies claims made by traders, mentors, and signal providers.
Input Data Integrity
GIPS demands accurate, consistent valuation data. We ensure data integrity by pulling trade history directly from broker servers via verified platforms or read-only access credentials — never relying on screenshots or self-reported numbers.
Note: IsYourTraderReal does not claim formal GIPS compliance — GIPS is designed for institutional investment management firms. However, our methodology is explicitly guided by and aligned with the core GIPS principles of fair representation, full disclosure, composite construction, and independent verification. We adapt these institutional-grade standards to provide retail investors with the same level of performance verification rigor that institutional investors have long relied upon.
Limitations & Disclaimers
We believe in full transparency about what our verification process can and cannot do. Honesty about our limitations strengthens the credibility of our findings.
Point-in-time assessment: Our verification reflects findings at the time of investigation. A trader's behavior may change after verification. This is why we conduct ongoing monitoring.
Cooperation dependent: Our ability to fully verify a trader depends on their willingness to cooperate and provide account access. Refusal to cooperate limits the depth of our investigation.
Multiple accounts: Traders may operate multiple trading accounts. We can only verify accounts that are disclosed to us or that we discover during our investigation.
Not financial advice: A "Verified" status confirms that the trader's track record is legitimate as presented. It is not an endorsement, recommendation, or guarantee of future performance.
Jurisdiction limitations: Some jurisdictions have limited public data. Traders operating in regions with poor regulatory infrastructure may have less verifiable information available.
Sophisticated fraud: While our methodology catches the vast majority of scams, we acknowledge that extremely sophisticated fraud operations may temporarily evade detection. This is why continuous monitoring is essential.
Continuous Monitoring
Verification is not a one-time event. Verified traders are subject to ongoing review to ensure they maintain the standards that earned them their status.
Periodic Re-verification
Verified traders undergo periodic checks to ensure their trading accounts remain active, legitimate, and consistent with previous findings.
New Report Alerts
If new reports or complaints are submitted about a previously verified trader, our team is automatically notified and initiates a review.
Regulatory Watch
We monitor regulatory warning lists and enforcement actions from major regulators. If a verified trader appears on any warning list, their status is immediately reviewed.
Community Feedback
We actively track online discussions, reviews, and forum posts about verified traders. A sudden increase in negative feedback triggers an automatic re-investigation.
Status Expiry
Verified status is not permanent. If a trader does not re-engage with the verification process when requested, their status may be changed to Inconclusive.
Immediate Escalation
Credible evidence of concern from previously verified traders is escalated immediately. Their status can be changed to Failed Verification within hours.
Trust the Process
Submit a trader for verification and let our methodology do the work. Every investigation follows the same rigorous standards.
Verify a Trader