Save this list, or come back to it, before subscribing to any provider — AI-branded or otherwise.
- Is the track record hosted independently, on a third-party platform, rather than only shown as screenshots on the provider's own site?
- Is that record backtested, forward-tested, or live? See the difference explained if you're unsure why this matters.
- Does the record include losing periods, not just curated winning trades?
- Is the win rate reported alongside risk-to-reward, not as a standalone headline number?
- Does every signal include a stop-loss and target, or just a direction? See why this matters.
- How does the provider actually make money — subscription, broker commission, or performance fee — and could that create an incentive to publish more signals than is actually warranted?
- Are there real, checkable company details — legal name, registration, contact information — rather than only a brand name and a contact form?
- If they also broker or execute trades, are they authorised by a recognised regulator you can verify on a public register? (See our overview of EU/UK regulation.)
- Is there pressure to decide quickly — countdown timers, "limited spots," aggressive upsells — rather than time to evaluate calmly?
- Could you explain, in one sentence, why this signal was generated — even in general terms — or is the reasoning entirely opaque?
A useful rule of thumb
No single "no" answer above automatically means a provider is dishonest — some legitimate services simply don't publish everything publicly. But several "no" answers stacked together is the pattern most associated with low-quality or fraudulent signal services, and is worth treating as a genuine warning sign rather than a minor gap.
If you decide to proceed
Even with a provider that clears every question above, the position-sizing and stop-loss discipline in our guide to risk management basics still determines most of your outcome — a good provider doesn't remove the need for it.
Not financial advice. This checklist is educational and does not endorse or evaluate any specific provider. See our full disclaimer.