Is DEGIRO a Scam or Legit?
DEGIRO holds a valid AFM licence. The number is public and verifiable.
DEGIRO is regulated under AFM licence 12060, issued to DEGIRO B.V.. This licence appears in the AFM public register. DEGIRO has been operating since 2008 — 18 years. Scam operations do not maintain long-term regulated status.
The AFM registration
| Regulator | AFM |
| Licence number | 12060 ✓ |
| Registered entity | DEGIRO B.V. |
| Status | Authorised |
| Register | brokerforexreviews.com |
| Years regulated | 18+ |
What AFM regulation means for you
AFM-regulated brokers must meet conduct and capital requirements set by the regulator. Client funds must be held separately from company funds.
All regulatory licences
DEGIRO holds 2 regulatory licences across different jurisdictions. The entity that applies to your account depends on your country of residence.
| Regulator | Licence | Entity | Max leverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFM | 12060 | DEGIRO B.V. | 1:30 max |
| BaFin | 151148 | DEGIRO GmbH | 1:30 max |
How to verify DEGIRO yourself
Go to brokerforexreviews.com. Enter the licence number 12060 or search by entity name DEGIRO B.V.. The result should show the entity name, authorisation status, and the specific regulated activities it is permitted to conduct.
This takes under a minute. If a broker cannot be found on the relevant regulator's register, that is a serious warning sign. All legitimate regulated brokers appear there.
Common complaints and what they mean
Most complaints about DEGIRO fall into standard categories: withdrawal processing times, spread widening during news events, and account verification requests. These are normal business practices, not indicators of fraud.
None of these patterns indicate fraud. They are the normal complaints of a commercial brokerage enforcing its terms. Real forex scams operate without any regulatory licence, refuse all withdrawals, and disappear with client funds. That is not the profile of DEGIRO.
Red flags that would indicate a real scam
When researching any broker, watch for these genuine warning signs:
- No licence number listed, or a licence that cannot be found on the official register
- Pressure to deposit more money to unlock withdrawals
- Promises of guaranteed returns or "risk-free" trading
- Platform that only shows profits, never losses
- No physical address or contact information
- Licence from a regulator you have never heard of that has no official website
None of these apply to DEGIRO. Its AFM licence 12060 is publicly verifiable, it has disclosed offices in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and it has operated continuously since 2008.
Frequently asked questions
Is DEGIRO safe to deposit money with?
DEGIRO is AFM-regulated and client funds are held in segregated accounts. Client funds are held separately from company funds as required by the regulator. This does not eliminate trading risk, but it protects funds from broker insolvency.
Why do people ask if DEGIRO is a scam?
Most forex scam searches come from traders who lost money trading. CFD trading is high-risk — 62% of DEGIRO retail clients lose money. Losing money on a legitimate platform does not make it a scam. Scams refuse all withdrawals and disappear. DEGIRO has processed billions in withdrawals over 18 years of operation.
Is DEGIRO regulated in my country?
DEGIRO holds licences covering 31 countries across 2 regulatory jurisdictions. The entity serving your account depends on your country. Check the full licence table above to find which entity applies to your region.
What happens to my money if DEGIRO goes bankrupt?
AFM-regulated brokers must hold client funds in segregated bank accounts entirely separate from company operating funds. This means your deposits cannot be used to pay the broker's business creditors if it becomes insolvent.