The "financial advisor" had a different identity—and my money

A LinkedIn connection introduced an independent advisor who sent polished decks with custodian logos and a badge that looked like FINRA-style registration.

I wanted to catch up on retirement savings after years of underfunding.

They asked me to roll over an IRA to “their platform” for lower fees and better models.

Transfers completed; statements lived on a website that looked like a broker until withdrawals stalled.

Fake advisors forge credentials and custodian names—sometimes one letter off a real firm.

Money moved to an unregulated entity; regulator lookups after the fact showed no registration.

While I signed I wanted fast catch-up on returns and treated the slick materials as proof instead of checking CRD / FCA registers first.

A compliance officer at a real brokerage I walked into showed me how the letterhead watermark and domain did not match theirs; that visit ended any hope the account was legitimate.

Years of contributions were largely gone; legal and therapy costs continue while I rebuild with stricter rules about who holds the money.

I only fund household-name custodians I contact through published numbers; I meet licensed advisors in verifiable branch settings before moving retirement assets.

• Check advisor registration on SEC IAPD, FINRA BrokerCheck (US), or FCA Register (UK)—free and authoritative.
• Never transfer retirement money to a solo “platform” you cannot verify.

For more help, see our Report a scam page and Spot and avoid scams guide.