1. Broker Analysts Label It “SCAM” Regulation Claims Fail Verification
BrokersView — a specialist broker review platform — classifies SKANESTAS as “SCAM.” They note the company claims regulation from ASIC (Australian regulator) under license number 488828, but that license actually belongs to Star Funds Management Pty Ltd, not SKANESTAS. This suggests misrepresentation or license misuse. misused license warning
SKANESTAS also asserts registration with NFA or listing with FinCEN, but searches in those databases yield no valid record for the entity.
These discrepancies between claimed regulation and reality are classic indicators of a likely fraudulent or unlicensed broker.
2. New Domain, Short Track Record
According to reviews from TraderKnows, SKANESTAS’ domain skanestas.net was registered June 22, 2025, making it extremely new with very little public history.
A young domain often indicates that the operator expects to abandon or rebrand quickly once scrutiny or complaints arise — a common tactic in scam operations.
3. Withdrawals Blocked, Users Report Losses
On WikiBit/Forex review aggregators, users claim they deposited significant sums (for example, €4,500) and never received payouts. One user reported paying “penalties and taxes” but got “no money out.”
Such withdrawal failures are among the most consistent signs of a financial scam: creating an illusion of gains but preventing access to funds.
4. Conflicting or Fake Licensing Claims
SKANESTAS claims to be regulated by ASIC under license 488828. Yet BrokersView confirms that 488828 belongs to a completely different firm, Star Funds Management Pty Ltd, creating serious licensing conflict.
This kind of license borrowing or false attribution is a red flag: they use the license number of a valid company to appear legitimate. Also, having a Money Services Business (MSB) registration (e.g. via FinCEN) does not permit them to act as a broker — but they claim more than that.
5. Suspicious Hosting & Negative Reputation Signals
SKANESTAS appears in broker directories under “Operating Status: SCAM” on BrokersView.
Also, review sites and forums (Facebook groups) warn that the company’s claimed office address does not exist and that many consider it to be a complete “investment scam.”
These signals combine: external warnings + negative reputation + conflict in regulatory claims = high risk.
6. Promises of Full Market Access, Multiple Instruments
TraderKnows notes that SKANESTAS markets a broad set of tradable instruments — forex pairs, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies, global indices — with a trading app called “ST7” for iOS and Android.
While it’s common for brokers to offer multiple instruments, when an extremely new and poorly verified platform offers everything, from crypto to global indices, that broad promise must be verified independently — not accepted at face value.
7. Absence of Strong, Consistent Track Record
Legitimate brokers build history: years of compliance, audited statements, public incident responses, regulatory filings, user testimonials across independent forums, documented withdrawals. SKANESTAS lacks such a background. It is new, its claims are challenged, and users report non-payment.
Because of all that, the risk of funds being trapped or disappearing is high.
Conclusion
SKANESTAS (skanestas.net) presents itself as a modern broker offering broad access to global markets, algorithmic tools, and mobile app access. But when you peel back the layers, multiple red flags emerge — and those cannot be ignored by any prudent investor.
First and foremost is the regulation mismatch. Claiming to have ASIC regulation under license number 488828, while that license actually belongs to another entity, is an attempt to co-opt credibility. Coupled with claims of NFA or FinCEN registration that don’t check out, it creates a picture of an entity using misdirection rather than legitimate licensing.
Next, the extreme youth of the domain (registered only in mid-2025) means there’s virtually no long-term track record or reliable data to support their operations. Entities that begin with flashy promises but little historical foundation are common patterns in scam schemes.
Then there are the user reports: deposits made, withdrawals blocked, excuses given, “penalties” demanded. As per one user on Forex aggregator platforms, they “couldn’t get paid … paid penalties and taxes but got no money out.” That is very consistent with how fraudulent brokers operate.
A hallmark of trustworthy brokers is transparency — clear ownership, audited financials, official regulatory filings, verifiable user testimonials. SKANESTAS fails these tests. Instead, it masks behind assertions, license numbers that don’t belong, and negative user feedback.
If you are considering interacting with SKANESTAS, here is a risk mitigation checklist:
- Do not deposit large sums. If you test it, use only an amount you can afford to lose.
- Test early withdrawal. If they refuse a small payout, it’s a red flag.
- Check all licensing claims. Use official regulator registers (ASIC, NFA, etc.).
- Document every interaction. Keep emails, chat logs, deposit receipts, screenshots.
- Search independent forums and complaint sites. Real users speak louder than claims.
- Report suspicions to regulators and consumer protection agencies.
In the digital investment world, polished websites and aggressive marketing can mask serious risk. But real trust is earned via consistency, transparency, accountability, and verifiable operations — not borrowed license numbers or user hype.
SKANESTAS fails these tests. It is too new, under-verified, and bogged with conflict in regulatory claims and negative reports. Until it can demonstrate clear, independently verifiable legitimacy, it should be approached with extreme caution — or simply avoided altogether.
Your vigilance is your protection. When a platform cannot prove regulatory compliance, lacks a track record, and shows signs of withdrawal issues — it should not be trusted with capital.
