What is the Immediate Edge Scam?
Immediate Edge Scam is a term that refers to a software that claims to use artificial intelligence to generate winning trades in Forex and CFD markets¹. However, there is no clear consensus on whether Immediate Edge is a scam or not. Some sources say that it is a safe and legitimate trading tool⁵, while others point out that it is a rehashed version of another scam site called Immediatebitcoin¹ and that it has been officially blacklisted by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom². Many reviewers also agree that Immediate Edge is a scam that targets new online traders for their money by promising them easy ways to make money online.
How do they Trick You?
A confidence trick is an attempt to defraud a person or group after first gaining their trust¹. Confidence tricksters exploit victims using their credulity, naïveté, compassion, vanity, confidence, irresponsibility, and greed¹. A confidence trick usually involves several stages, such as foundation work, approach, build-up, pay-off, and aftermath¹. The confidence trickster may use various techniques to gain the victim's trust, such as pretending to be an authority figure, a friend, a professional, or a person in need¹. The confidence trickster may also use shills, which are accomplices who pretend to be independent and unbiased witnesses or participants in the scam¹. The confidence trickster may then persuade the victim to invest money or valuables in a scheme that promises high returns but is actually worthless or non-existent¹. The confidence trickster may also try to prevent the victim from reporting the scam or seeking help by using threats, blackmail, or emotional manipulation.
What Are These Immediate Edge Scam Websites?
Immediate Edge Scam websites are websites that claim to offer a software that can generate winning trades in Forex and CFD markets using artificial intelligence¹. However, these websites are not trustworthy and may be trying to scam you out of your money or personal information. Some of the signs that these websites are scams are:
- They use fake testimonials, endorsements, or reviews from celebrities or users who claim to have made huge profits using the software¹.
- They promise unrealistic returns or guarantees, such as making thousands of dollars per day or becoming a millionaire in a few weeks¹.
- They ask you to deposit money with unregulated or unknown brokers who may charge hidden fees, manipulate the trades, or refuse to process withdrawals¹³⁴.
- They have been officially blacklisted or warned by financial authorities, such as the FCA in the UK, the FSMA in Belgium, or the FMA in New Zealand² .
- They change their domain names frequently to avoid detection or negative reviews, such as Immediatebitcoin.io, Immediatebitcoin.com, Immediate-edge.co, Immediateedgebot.com, or Immediate-edge.io¹⁵.
Source: Conversation with Bing, 02/05/2023
(1) Is Immediate Edge a Scam? Why You Should Avoid Them! A 2022 Review.. https://gratefulaffiliate.com/is-immediate-edge-a-scam/.
(2) Immediate Edge Review – The Truth Behind the Fraudulent Broker. https://globalfraudprotection.com/scam-recovery/immediate-edge-review/.
(4) Immediate Edge | FCA. https://www.fca.org.uk/news/warnings/immediate-edge.
(5) Is Immediate Edge a scam or not? ++ Review & test (2023). https://www.trusted-broker-reviews.com/immediate-edge-review/.
Why aren't the Immediate Edge Scammers in Prison?
I cannot answer that question with certainty, as I do not have access to the legal proceedings or investigations that may be taking place against the Immediate Edge scammers. However, some possible reasons why they are not in prison are:
- They operate from different countries or jurisdictions that have weak or no regulation of online trading or financial fraud.
- They use various techniques to hide their identity, location, and money trail, such as fake names, addresses, phone numbers, email accounts, domain names, and payment methods .
- They target vulnerable or inexperienced investors who may not be aware of the risks or signs of scams, or who may be reluctant or unable to report the fraud or seek help .
- They change their tactics and strategies frequently to avoid detection or negative reviews, such as creating new websites, ads, testimonials, or offers .
- They have not been caught or prosecuted yet by the authorities, who may face challenges in gathering evidence, tracing the scammers, or extraditing them from other countries .
How Can Fake Reviews of Immediate Edge be Removed from Websites?
Fake reviews of Immediate Edge can be difficult to remove from websites, as they may be posted by the scammers themselves or by paid reviewers who have a financial incentive to promote the scam. However, some possible steps that can be taken to remove fake reviews are:
- Contacting the website owner or administrator and reporting the fake reviews as spam, fraud, or misleading. Providing evidence or links to support the claim may help.
- Flagging or reporting the fake reviews on the website itself, if there is such an option available. This may alert other users or moderators to the scam and reduce its credibility.
- Leaving honest and factual reviews on the website to counter the fake ones and warn other potential victims. Providing links to reputable sources or authorities that have exposed the scam may help.
- Sharing the information about the scam and the fake reviews on social media, forums, blogs, or other platforms to raise awareness and prevent others from falling for it.
- Reporting the scam and the fake reviews to the relevant authorities, such as consumer protection agencies, financial regulators, or law enforcement. Providing details or screenshots of the scam and the fake reviews may help.
How can Immediate Edge be Pronounced Publicly as a Scam?
Immediate Edge can be publicised as a scam by using various channels and methods to spread the word and expose the fraud. Some possible ways to publicise Immediate Edge as a scam are:
- Writing articles or blogs that explain how Immediate Edge works, why it is a scam, and what are the risks and signs of the scam. Providing links to reputable sources or authorities that have exposed the scam may help.
- Creating videos or podcasts that show how Immediate Edge operates, how it lures victims, and how it steals their money. Providing evidence or testimonials from victims or experts may help.
- Posting comments or reviews on websites that promote or feature Immediate Edge, warning other users about the scam and providing facts or links to support the claim.
- Sharing the information about the scam on social media, forums, groups, or communities that are related to online trading, investing, or cryptocurrencies. Tagging or mentioning relevant influencers, celebrities, or media outlets may help.
- Reporting the scam to the relevant authorities, such as consumer protection agencies, financial regulators, or law enforcement. Providing details or screenshots of the scam and its websites, ads, testimonials, or offers may help.
How can I find reliable sources or authorities that have exposed the scam?
Some reliable sources or authorities that have exposed Immediate Edge scam are:
- The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK, which is the main regulator of financial services and products in the country. The FCA has issued a warning against Immediate Edge, stating that it is an unauthorised firm that may be providing financial services or products in the UK without its authorisation¹.
- The Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA) in Belgium, which is the main supervisor of the financial sector in the country. The FSMA has warned against Immediate Edge, stating that it is a fake ad and bogus website that uses false testimonials and promises unrealistic returns².
- The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) in New Zealand, which is the main regulator of financial markets and services in the country. The FMA has republished the warnings from the FCA and the FSMA, alerting consumers to be wary of Immediate Edge³.
- Global Fraud Protection, which is a website that provides scam recovery services and reviews of scam brokers. Global Fraud Protection has published a detailed review of Immediate Edge, exposing its fraudulent practices and tactics⁴.
- Grateful Affiliate, which is a website that provides reviews and tips on online business opportunities. Grateful Affiliate has published a review of Immediate Edge, explaining why it is a scam and how to avoid it.
Source: Conversation with Bing, 02/05/2023
(1) Immediate Edge | FCA. https://www.fca.org.uk/news/warnings/immediate-edge.
(2) Immediate Edge Review – The Truth Behind the Fraudulent Broker. https://globalfraudprotection.com/scam-recovery/immediate-edge-review/.
(3) Immediate Edge Review 2023: Persistent Scam Exposed With Proof. https://bitrust.co.uk/immediate-edge-review-2023-persistent-scam-exposed-with-proof/.
(4) Is Immediate Edge a Scam? Why You Should Avoid Them! A 2022 Review.. https://gratefulaffiliate.com/is-immediate-edge-a-scam/.
How can I verify if a source or authority is reliable or not?
There is no definitive way to verify if a source or authority is reliable or not, but some possible steps that can help are:
- Checking the credentials and reputation of the source or authority, such as their qualifications, affiliations, experience, awards, or recognition.
- Evaluating the quality and accuracy of the information provided by the source or authority, such as their sources, references, citations, data, facts, or logic.
- Comparing and contrasting the information from different sources or authorities, looking for consistency, agreement, or disagreement among them.
- Assessing the bias and objectivity of the source or authority, looking for signs of personal opinion, agenda, motive, or interest that may influence their information.
- Reviewing the feedback and comments from other users or readers who have interacted with the source or authority, looking for positive or negative reviews, ratings, testimonials, or complaints.
What are some examples of reliable sources or authorities on online trading and scams?
Some examples of reliable sources or authorities on online trading and scams are:
- The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK, which is the main regulator of financial services and products in the country. The FCA has a website that provides information on online trading scams, how to protect yourself, and how to report them¹.
- The National Trading Standards (NTS) Scams Team in the UK, which is a team of specialists that works to protect consumers and businesses from scams. The NTS Scams Team has a website that provides information on various types of scams, how to avoid them, and how to join their Friends Against Scams initiative².
- The Moneyback Hero website, which is a website that provides scam recovery services and reviews of scam brokers. The Moneyback Hero website has a blog that exposes various online trading scams and provides tips on how to recover your money³.
- The Investopedia website, which is a website that provides educational content on various topics related to finance, investing, and trading. The Investopedia website has articles that explain how online trading works, what are the risks and benefits, and how to choose a reliable broker⁴.
- The Daily Maverick website, which is a website that provides independent news and analysis on various topics related to South Africa and the world. The Daily Maverick website has articles that warn consumers about online trading scams and provide advice on how to avoid them⁵.
Source: Conversation with Bing, 02/05/2023
(1) How To File A Complaint Against Suspected Online Trading Fraud. https://www.moneybackhero.com/how-to-file-a-complaint-against-suspected-online-trading-fraud/.
(2) Online trading scams | FCA. https://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/online-trading-scams.
(3) Friends Against Scams - National Trading Standards (NTS) Scams Team .... https://www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk/.
(4) Forex trading scams | FCA. https://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/forex-trading-scams.
(5) Online trading scams: Do not fall victim - Daily Maverick. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-08-02-online-trading-scams-do-not-fall-victim/.
Why Can't Fake Review Sites be Shut Down?
Fake review sites can be very hard to shut down, as they may use various techniques to evade detection or legal action. Some possible reasons why fake review sites can't be shut down are:
- They operate from different countries or jurisdictions that have weak or no regulation of online content or consumer protection.
- They use various methods to hide their identity, location, and ownership, such as fake names, addresses, phone numbers, email accounts, domain names, and hosting services.
- They change their domain names frequently to avoid negative reviews, complaints, or lawsuits, or to create new fake review sites.
- They use bots, software, or paid reviewers to generate large numbers of fake reviews that are hard to distinguish from real ones.
- They have a large network of affiliates, partners, or advertisers that support their fake review sites and benefit from them.
How can I spot fake review sites online?
There is no definitive way to spot fake review sites online, but some possible steps that can help are:
- Checking the credentials and reputation of the review site, such as its domain name, contact details, privacy policy, terms and conditions, and disclaimer.
- Evaluating the quality and accuracy of the reviews on the site, such as their sources, references, citations, data, facts, or logic.
- Comparing and contrasting the reviews from different review sites, looking for consistency, agreement, or disagreement among them.
- Assessing the bias and objectivity of the reviews on the site, looking for signs of personal opinion, agenda, motive, or interest that may influence their reviews.
- Reviewing the feedback and comments from other users or readers who have interacted with the review site, looking for positive or negative reviews, ratings, testimonials, or complaints.
What are some examples of fake review sites online?
Some examples of fake review sites online are:
- Immediate Edge Reviews, which is a website that claims to provide unbiased and honest reviews of the Immediate Edge software, but actually promotes the scam and uses fake testimonials and endorsements¹.
- Trustpilot, which is a website that allows users to rate and review businesses and products, but has been accused of hosting fake reviews and failing to remove them even after being reported².
- Tripadvisor, which is a website that provides travel information and reviews, but has been exposed for having fake reviews from hotels, restaurants, and attractions that pay for positive ratings or post them themselves³.
- Amazon, which is a website that sells various products and services, but has been plagued by fake reviews from sellers who offer incentives or use bots to boost their ratings or sabotage their competitors⁴.
- Yelp, which is a website that provides local business information and reviews, but has been sued by businesses who claim that Yelp manipulates reviews based on whether they pay for advertising or not⁵.
Source: Conversation with Bing, 02/05/2023
(1) How to spot a fake review - Which?. https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/online-shopping/article/online-shopping/how-to-spot-a-fake-review-aiDaS3e1ivfr.
(2) Online reviews - GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/online-reviews.
(3) How Sites Like Tripadvisor and Yelp Are Fighting Fake Reviews - The New .... https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/25/travel/fake-review-investigators.html.
(4) Fake Reviews: What is a Fake Review, and Why Should You Care?. https://www.sitesell.com/blog/fake-reviews/.
(5) Many online reviews are fake; here how to spot them | wthr.com. https://www.wthr.com/article/news/investigations/13-investigates/many-of-those-5-star-reviews-you-see-online-are-totally-fake-yelp-google-facebook-false-accounts/531-f175843b-1316-494a-a746-5bdfcada43fa.