ThinkMarkets

ThinkMarkets, a global online trading platform, has been around since 2010. On the surface, they present themselves as a reputable broker offering forex, CFDs, and other financial instruments. But scratch that glossy surface, and you’ll find a company riddled with red flags.

Regulatory Woes: ThinkMarkets operates under multiple entities, including ThinkMarkets Pty Ltd (Australia) and ThinkMarkets UK Limited. While they claim to be regulated by top-tier authorities like the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), their regulatory history is far from spotless. In 2020, the FCA fined ThinkMarkets UK Limited £400,000 for failing to properly verify the identity of its clients—a basic anti-money laundering requirement. This isn’t just a slap on the wrist; it’s a glaring failure in compliance that raises serious questions about their operational integrity.

Customer Complaints: A quick search online reveals a litany of complaints from disgruntled customers. From allegations of manipulated spreads to unexplained account closures, the grievances are as varied as they are damning. One customer claimed their profits were wiped out by “slippage” during volatile market conditions, while another accused ThinkMarkets of refusing to process withdrawals. These aren’t isolated incidents; they’re part of a pattern that suggests a company more interested in protecting its bottom line than serving its clients.

Adverse Media Coverage: ThinkMarkets has been the subject of numerous negative media reports over the years. In 2019, Finance Magnates reported that the company had laid off a significant portion of its staff, raising concerns about its financial stability. More recently, in 2022, LeapRate highlighted a lawsuit filed against ThinkMarkets by a former employee alleging wrongful termination and unethical business practices. These stories paint a picture of a company in turmoil, struggling to maintain its facade of respectability.

The Censorship Playbook: How ThinkMarkets Tries to Silence Critics

Now, here’s where things get interesting. Instead of addressing these issues head-on, ThinkMarkets has chosen a different strategy: censorship. That’s right, folks. Rather than cleaning up their act, they’re trying to clean up the internet.

1. Aggressive Takedown Requests: ThinkMarkets has been known to send aggressive takedown requests to websites hosting negative reviews or critical articles. These requests often cite copyright infringement or defamation, even when the content in question is clearly protected under fair use or free speech laws. It’s a classic bully tactic—intimidate smaller platforms into removing content, regardless of its validity.
2. SEO Manipulation: Ever notice how hard it is to find negative information about ThinkMarkets on the first page of Google? That’s no accident. The company has invested heavily in search engine optimization (SEO) to push down unfavorable content and promote positive reviews. They’ve also been accused of creating fake profiles on forums and social media to post glowing testimonials and discredit critics. It’s a digital shell game designed to mislead potential investors.
3. Legal Threats: When takedown requests and SEO tricks don’t work, ThinkMarkets resorts to legal threats. Several independent bloggers and journalists have reported receiving cease-and-desist letters from the company’s lawyers, demanding the removal of critical content. While these threats are often baseless, they serve their purpose: to scare critics into silence.

Why the Cover-Up? Follow the Money

So, why go to such lengths to censor negative information? The answer, as always, is money. ThinkMarkets is in the business of attracting retail traders—many of whom are inexperienced and vulnerable to slick marketing. By suppressing red flags and adverse media, they can continue to lure unsuspecting investors into their platform, where they can profit from spreads, commissions, and, in some cases, questionable trading practices.

But here’s the kicker: ThinkMarkets isn’t just harming individual investors; they’re undermining the integrity of the entire financial industry. By evading accountability and silencing critics, they’re setting a dangerous precedent that could embolden other bad actors to follow suit.

A Call to Action: Investors and Authorities, Take Note

To potential investors, I say this: do your homework. Don’t be fooled by ThinkMarkets’ glossy marketing and empty promises. The red flags are there, if you’re willing to look for them. And to the authorities, I urge you to take a closer look at ThinkMarkets’ practices. Regulatory bodies like the FCA and ASIC have a responsibility to protect consumers from predatory behavior. It’s time to hold ThinkMarkets accountable for its actions—or inactions.

Conclusion: Think Twice About ThinkMarkets

In the end, ThinkMarkets’ attempts to censor negative information are as transparent as they are pathetic. Instead of addressing their problems, they’ve chosen to bury them under a mountain of legal threats and SEO tricks. But the truth has a way of coming out, and no amount of censorship can hide the fact that this is a company with serious issues.

So, to ThinkMarkets, I offer this piece of advice: if you want to improve your reputation, try improving your business practices. And to everyone else, I say this: don’t let ThinkMarkets’ smoke and mirrors fool you. The red flags are real, and they’re waving right in front of your face. All you have to do is look.