The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) warned against Pacific Sunrise UK Ltd, trading as CFD Stocks, in April 2018. The regulator said the firm was targeting people in the UK and appeared to be providing financial services or products without the authorisation required to do so. The warning itself did not announce a fine, prosecution or compensation scheme.
The FCA notice is a warning about an unauthorised firm, not a final finding of fraud. Anyone considering an online FX or CFD broker should verify the exact legal entity and its permissions before sending money.
What did the FCA say about CFD Stocks?
The FCA’s warning named Pacific Sunrise UK Ltd T/A CFD Stocks and identified the website as cfdstocks.com.
The key wording was:
“This firm is not authorised by us and is targeting people in the UK.”
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The FCA said it believed the firm was providing financial services or products in the UK without authorisation and was carrying on regulated activities that required permission.
Contemporary financial-media reports described CFD Stocks as an FX broker. However, the FCA warning itself used the broader phrase “financial services or products” and did not publish a complete list of instruments offered. It is therefore safer not to treat claims about specific currency pairs, shares, commodities or other products as facts established by the FCA notice.
When was the warning issued?
The warning dates to April 2018. The FCA currently exposes two versions of the warning record with inconsistent date metadata. One version refers to 18 April 2018 and 12 April 2018, while another refers to 12 April 2018 and a later update on 1 June 2021. The substantive warning details are materially the same.
The important point is that this was not a new 2019 warning. Some third-party broker-review pages may have been updated in 2019, which can create confusion about the date of the FCA action.
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Read the FCA records:
Which entity and contact details appeared in the warning?
The FCA warning listed Pacific Sunrise UK Ltd as the entity and CFD Stocks as its trading name. It also included the following contact details:
| Detail | Information in the FCA warning |
|---|---|
| Legal/trading name | Pacific Sunrise UK Ltd T/A CFD Stocks |
| Website | cfdstocks.com |
| London address | 18 King William Street, London, EC4N 7BP |
| Greater Manchester address | Fernhills House, Todd Street, Bury, Greater Manchester, BL9 5BJ |
| Email addresses | [email protected] and [email protected] |
| Telephone numbers | 02033322930, 02038072167, 02036709909, 02036709880 and 02034559628 |
The FCA cautions that unauthorised firms can provide inaccurate or changing addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses. A UK address or a professional-looking website is not proof that a firm is authorised.
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Was CFD Stocks legally declared a scam?
Not by this warning alone. The FCA established that it did not authorise the firm and said it appeared to be carrying on regulated activities without the necessary permission. The notice did not state that CFD Stocks had been found guilty of fraud, and it did not announce a fine, prosecution or compensation arrangement.
Calling the firm “unauthorised” accurately reflects the FCA notice. Calling it a proven fraud or scam goes further than the evidence in that notice supports. Consumers should still take the warning seriously: dealing with a firm that lacks the required authorisation can leave them without important complaint and compensation routes.
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The FCA warned that customers dealing with the unauthorised firm would not have access to:
- The Financial Ombudsman Service for complaints; or
- The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) if the firm failed.
These protections are not general guarantees available for every financial loss. They depend on the firm, activity and circumstances, and normally require the business to be authorised for the relevant service.
There is also a separate, newer issue involving payment fraud. For payments made to a fraudster on or after 7 October 2024, protections introduced by the Payment Systems Regulator may apply in some circumstances, depending on the payment method and facts of the case. That possibility does not make an unauthorised broker FCA-authorised, and it is not the same as FSCS protection.
How to check an FX or CFD broker before depositing
Do not rely only on the broker’s brand name, website domain or presence on a comparison site. Check the firm that will actually be your contractual counterparty.
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- Open the FCA Firm Checker. Search for the firm’s legal name and trading name.
- Confirm the exact permission. A firm can be authorised for one service but not for the specific product or activity being offered.
- Match the legal entity. Compare the company name in the broker’s terms and conditions with the entity on the FCA register.
- Compare contact details. Check the address, telephone number and website shown on the FCA record. Do not assume that a similar-looking name belongs to the authorised firm.
- Search the FCA Warning List separately. Use the FCA page’s “Search our Warning List” control and search for names of firms. You can also filter by first letter or sort the “Name” column.
- Check where the contract is made. The terms should identify the company and country in which it is incorporated. An overseas affiliate may not provide the same UK protections.
The FCA specifically warns that overseas firms can use names similar to UK-authorised companies. It also says that a firm’s absence from the Warning List does not prove that the firm is authorised or safe. The Firm Checker and Financial Services Register are the more important checks.
Useful FCA pages include the Warning List guidance and the FCA’s CFD guidance.
How the 2018 warning relates to current UK CFD rules
The CFD Stocks warning was an action concerning one allegedly unauthorised firm. It was not the introduction of the UK’s general retail-CFD restrictions.
For authorised firms offering CFDs to retail clients, the FCA’s permanent restrictions include:
| Requirement | What it means |
|---|---|
| Leverage limits | Leverage ranges from 30:1 to 2:1, depending on the underlying asset. |
| Margin close-out | Positions must be closed when the client’s funds fall to 50% of the margin required to maintain open positions. |
| Negative balance protection | A retail client cannot lose more than the funds in the trading account. |
| No trading incentives | Cash and other inducements to trade CFDs are prohibited. |
| Standard risk warning | Firms must show the percentage of their retail client accounts that lose money. |
The FCA’s CFD perimeter includes rolling spot foreign exchange. These rules apply to authorised firms operating within the relevant UK regulatory framework; they do not turn an unauthorised website into a regulated broker.
Protections can also be lost through offshore or professional-client arrangements
The risks have not disappeared simply because a broker is not listed under the exact name “CFD Stocks”. The FCA continues to warn about high-risk CFD trading and about retail customers being encouraged to become elective professional clients. A customer who is classified as professional may lose some retail protections.
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The FCA has also highlighted firms that redirect retail customers to associated offshore CFD providers. The overseas entity may not offer equivalent leverage limits, negative-balance protection or complaint routes. On 30 October 2025, the FCA said firms must not push elective-professional or overseas-redirection promotions onto retail clients and highlighted risks associated with finfluencers promoting unregulated offshore firms. See the FCA’s 30 October 2025 warning.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If you sent money to CFD Stocks
Act quickly, but be cautious of anyone promising to recover the money for an upfront fee. A second firm may claim to be a “recovery agent” and request further payments or remote access to your computer.
- Contact your bank or card provider using its official number and ask whether the payment can be recalled or disputed.
- Save account statements, payment confirmations, emails, chat logs, telephone numbers, website screenshots and the broker’s terms.
- Report suspected fraud to the relevant UK reporting channel, such as Action Fraud, and report the firm to the FCA.
- Do not send additional money to unlock withdrawals, pay “taxes” or meet supposed verification charges without independent advice.
- If you shared passwords or identity documents, change reused passwords and monitor accounts for further misuse.
Payment recovery is not guaranteed. The FCA warning does not itself create an FSCS claim or confirm that a particular customer is entitled to compensation.
FAQ
Was CFD Stocks authorised by the FCA?
No. The FCA said Pacific Sunrise UK Ltd trading as CFD Stocks was not authorised by the FCA and appeared to be carrying on regulated activities requiring permission.
Did the FCA ban CFD Stocks?
The FCA warning did not announce a ban or prohibition order. It warned consumers that the firm was unauthorised and targeting people in the UK.
Did the warning prove that CFD Stocks was fraudulent?
No. The warning established the FCA’s position that the firm was unauthorised. It did not itself announce a final fraud finding, fine, prosecution or compensation scheme.
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Were customers covered by the FSCS?
The FCA warned that customers dealing with the unauthorised firm would not have FSCS protection if the firm failed, and would not normally have access to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Does a broker’s absence from the FCA Warning List mean it is safe?
No. The FCA says a firm can still be unauthorised or a scam even if it does not appear on the Warning List. Use the FCA Firm Checker and verify the specific legal entity and permission.
Does trading a CFD mean owning the underlying shares or currency?
Generally, no. A CFD is a derivative used to speculate on price movements without owning the underlying asset. The FCA warning did not establish a detailed product list for CFD Stocks.
The Bottom Line
The FCA’s April 2018 warning said Pacific Sunrise UK Ltd, trading as CFD Stocks, was not authorised and appeared to be targeting UK customers with regulated financial services. That is the claim the warning supports. It should not be rewritten as a proven fraud finding or an FCA ban.
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Before using any FX or CFD broker, check the exact contracting entity and its permission through the FCA Firm Checker, compare the contact details, and search the Warning List separately. If a broker pressures you to deposit quickly, switch to an offshore affiliate or give up retail protections, stop and verify the arrangement independently.
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