The New Zealand Financial Markets Authority (FMA) warned consumers about CF Group on 9 November 2018. The warning concerned the website forexcf.com and an app called CFD Trade, which had been published on the Google Play Store.
This was not a new FMA action in 2023 or 2026. Some pages describing the warning were updated years later, but the underlying regulatory notice remains dated 9 November 2018.
What did the FMA warn about?
The FMA advised people to exercise caution before dealing with CF Group and its CFD Trade app. Its warning identified the following details:
| Detail | Information in the FMA warning |
|---|---|
| Entity named | CF Group |
| Website | www.forexcf.com |
| App | CFD Trade |
| Contact email | [email protected] |
| Warning date | 9 November 2018 |
The central concern was not simply that the business had a similar name to a registered New Zealand company. The FMA said the app claimed to be associated with a New Zealand-registered financial service provider called CF Group Limited, but that the app was not associated with that company.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →#1 Best Overall
In practical terms, consumers were warned not to assume that the people operating forexcf.com or the CFD Trade app were the same entity as the legitimate New Zealand-registered provider.
CF Group and CF Group Limited should not be confused
The similar names create an important distinction.
- CF Group: the entity named in the FMA warning, connected in the notice with
forexcf.comand the CFD Trade app. - CF Group Limited: the New Zealand-registered financial service provider whose identity or association the app allegedly claimed, according to the FMA.
The FMA expressly stated that the app was not associated with CF Group Limited. Therefore, describing CF Group Limited itself as the warned or unauthorised broker would go beyond what the published notice says.
A company appearing on a register is also not automatic proof that a particular website, app, salesperson or trading account belongs to that company. A firm’s name, registration number, domain, email address and payment details all need to match.
Was this a recent FMA blacklist?
No. The official warning date is 9 November 2018.
A widely circulated article with the headline “FMA of New Zealand has issued a warning against CF Group” was updated on 22 March 2023. That update can make the warning appear recent, but it was reporting the earlier 2018 notice rather than announcing a new FMA action.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
The same caution applies to references describing the matter as a 2026 warning. The available FMA notice does not support that description.
Rank #2
What the warning does—and does not—establish
The FMA’s published wording recommends caution and explains that the app was not associated with the New Zealand-registered company it appeared to reference.
That is significant, but it should be reported precisely. The warning itself does not state that:
- a court had found CF Group guilty of fraud;
- the FMA had obtained a compensation or repayment order;
- there had been a criminal conviction; or
- every business or person using the CF Group name was part of the same operation.
It is accurate to say that the FMA issued a warning about CF Group, its website and its CFD Trade app, and that the regulator identified an apparent false or unauthorised association with CF Group Limited. It is not accurate to turn the warning alone into a claim of a court-established fraud finding.
Why an FSPR listing is not enough
New Zealand’s Financial Service Providers Register (FSPR) is a public register. However, the FMA warns that registration on the FSPR does not necessarily mean that a business is licensed or regulated by the FMA. It also does not, by itself, prove that a business is based in New Zealand.
This matters when checking a trading platform. A provider may point to a genuine company’s registration details while operating through a different website or legal entity. Registration details should be independently checked rather than accepted from a broker’s own website.
Rank #3
Before sending money, compare:
- the exact legal name shown on the register;
- the company or licence number;
- the website domain and email address;
- the regulator and licence category;
- the bank-account or payment recipient name; and
- the platform’s withdrawal, fee and dispute terms.
If those details do not match, stop and contact the relevant regulator through its official website. Do not use a phone number or link supplied by the platform to verify its own credentials.
Warning lists are useful but not complete
The FMA says its warnings-and-alerts list is not exhaustive. It also cautions that a listed business or individual may have changed names. That means the 2018 CF Group notice should be treated as a specific alert about the identified entity, domain, app and contact details—not as a complete map of every name potentially connected with the people behind it.
The reverse is also important: a business not appearing on the warning list should not be treated as safe or authorised. Investors should check licensing and registration independently and look for evidence that the particular entity offering the service is authorised to provide the relevant financial product.
What should an investor do if they used the app?
Anyone who deposited money through the identified website or app should preserve evidence before closing accounts or deleting messages. Useful records include:
- screenshots of the website, app and account balance;
- emails, text messages and chat histories;
- deposit confirmations and bank or card statements;
- the receiving account name and payment instructions;
- withdrawal requests and any demands for tax, insurance or release fees; and
- the app’s name, download source and version details.
Contact the bank or card provider promptly using its official number and ask whether a payment recall, chargeback or account-security measure is available. Change passwords reused on the platform and enable two-factor authentication. Report suspected investment fraud to the appropriate New Zealand authorities and be cautious of anyone promising to recover the money for an upfront fee.
Rank #4
Bottom line on the CF Group warning
The FMA warned against CF Group on 9 November 2018. The notice identified forexcf.com and the CFD Trade app, and said the app claimed an association with the New Zealand-registered CF Group Limited even though it was not associated with that provider.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsThe warning is old, not a newly issued 2023 or 2026 action. It also should not be inaccurately presented as a court finding of fraud. The practical lesson remains current: verify the exact legal entity behind a trading platform, do not rely on an FSPR entry alone, and treat a mismatch between a broker’s branding and a registered company as a serious warning sign.
Source: New Zealand Financial Markets Authority warning against CF Group.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.FAQ
When did the FMA warn against CF Group?
The FMA issued the warning on 9 November 2018. Later webpages updated in 2023 were reporting the older warning, not announcing a new regulatory action.
What were the website and app named in the warning?
The warning identified the website www.forexcf.com and an app called CFD Trade, which had been published on the Google Play Store.
Recommended Free Tools
Best Value
Was CF Group Limited itself the broker warned against?
The FMA warning identified CF Group and said its app was not associated with the New Zealand-registered financial service provider CF Group Limited. The two entities should not be automatically treated as the same business.
Does FSPR registration prove that a broker is FMA-regulated?
No. The FMA says that registration on the Financial Service Providers Register does not necessarily mean a provider is licensed or regulated by the FMA, or that it is based in New Zealand.
Did the FMA warning prove that CF Group committed criminal fraud?
The published warning does not report a court judgment, criminal conviction, compensation order or finding that every activity using the CF Group name was criminal fraud. It recommends caution and identifies the claimed association with CF Group Limited as unauthorised.
What should I do if I sent money to the platform?
Save account records, payment confirmations and communications; contact your bank or card provider immediately through an official channel; secure reused passwords; and report suspected fraud to the relevant authorities. Be wary of recovery services demanding an upfront payment.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: The FMA’s CF Group warning dates from 9 November 2018. It concerned forexcf.com and the CFD Trade app, which the FMA said was not associated with the genuine New Zealand-registered company CF Group Limited. Treat the warning as a serious identity-mismatch alert, but do not describe it as a recent action or as a court-established fraud finding.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
