Risk scorecard
Each area is scored 0 (clean) to 10 (worst). Higher means more risk.
Regulation
5/10 · ModerateGenuine FSCA tier-2 licences verified on the register (Red Pine Capital FSP 46044 and RocketX ODP FSP 52142), but this is an intermediary and representative structure with moderate protection and no loss-compensation fund.
Identity & transparency
4/10 · ModerateReal South African entities, registration numbers, a physical address and published compliance documents; offset by the Trade245 brand not being recorded as a trading name on the FSCA licence.
Withdrawals & conduct
8/10 · CriticalSustained, specific, multi-platform withdrawal-denial complaints running into 2026, with document stalling and disabled accounts, and an unclaimed Trustpilot profile showing no responses.
Reputation
7/10 · HighOverwhelmingly negative on trader-facing sites (Trustpilot 2.5 with 80 percent one-star, WikiFX about 2 out of 10), though not driven by a regulator warning list.
Website claims
4/10 · ModerateRegulation claims are broadly true and the real entities are disclosed, but presenting an FSCA representative arrangement as being licensed and regulated slightly overstates the position.
Operational history
3/10 · LowDomain since 2020 and licence holder authorised since 2015, giving several years of continuous operation under one brand.
Who they are
A quick desk file on the company behind the brand.
- Brand: Trade245
- Legal entity: Trade245 (Pty) Ltd and Trade245 Global (Pty) Ltd, operating as authorised representatives of Red Pine Capital (Pty) Ltd
- Registered: South Africa. Red Pine Capital registration 2014/220311/07; Trade245 (Pty) Ltd registration 2020/539887/07
- Website: www.trade245.com
- Only licence: FSCA FSP 46044 (Red Pine Capital), with derivatives run through RocketX FSP 52142 as the over the counter derivatives counterparty
- Offers: Forex and CFD trading
- Not accepted: Indonesia has blocked the site; there is no tier-1 authorisation such as FCA, ASIC, CySEC or NFA
- Age claim: Domain created April 2020; Red Pine Capital has been FSCA-authorised since December 2015
Regulation
Who really oversees this broker, and what each licence is worth to you.
Proof of regulation on an official register: Yes
We confirmed this broker on a genuine regulator’s register.
Licences the broker publishes
Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA)
Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA)
Found by our investigation (1) — the broker does not list these on its own site
Moroni International Services Authority (MISA)
Found by us — not listed by the broker
Why we reached this verdict
How the evidence adds up.
We rate Trade245 high risk because a real licence sits next to a poor withdrawal record.
- We opened the FSCA register ourselves. FSP 46044, held by Red Pine Capital, is active and covers derivatives as an advice, intermediary and discretionary provider, and FSP 52142, held by RocketX, is active as the derivatives counterparty.
- Trade245's own compliance documents state it acts as an authorised representative of Red Pine Capital, so this is a genuine South African operation, not an impersonation of a well known firm.
- Against that, most independent reviews describe the same pattern: money goes in easily, but withdrawals are delayed, met with repeated document requests, or refused.
- The Trustpilot profile is unclaimed and 42 of 52 reviews are one star, with specific accounts running from early 2025 into mid 2026.
- Indonesia's regulator BAPPEBTI blocked the site in 2022 for operating without a local licence.
Evidence ledger
Every finding, with its source and how strongly it points.
E1FSCA register confirms FSP 46044, Red Pine Capital (Pty) Ltd, status Authorized, authorised 08 Dec 2015, Category I and Category II covering derivative instruments and other products.
E2FSCA register confirms FSP 52142, RocketX (Pty) Ltd, status Authorized, authorised 11 May 2023, Category I for derivative instruments, matching the ODP counterparty the broker names.
E3Trade245's own FAIS disclosure states Trade245 operates as an authorised representative of Red Pine Capital (FSP 46044), with RocketX as the derivatives counterparty, establishing a genuine group relationship rather than impersonation.
E4Trustpilot shows 52 reviews, score 2.5, with 42 of 52 at one star and specific withdrawal-denial accounts dated from February 2025 into mid 2026, including document stalling and disabled accounts; the profile is unclaimed.
StrongTrustpilotE5WikiFX dealer page for trade245.com scores the broker about 2 out of 10 and warns of a high volume of unresolved client complaints; it lists the FSCA record as a corporate registration rather than a forex trading licence.
ModerateWikiFXE6Indonesia's BAPPEBTI included Trade245 among websites blocked in early 2022 for illegal, locally unlicensed commodity futures trading, indicating solicitation outside its licensed scope.
ModerateBAPPEBTI blocked-site disclosureE7A WikiFX article frames Trade245 as appropriating Red Pine Capital's licence, but this aggregator allegation is contradicted by the broker's own compliance documents and by the FSCA register, so it is treated as a lead only.
WeakWikiFX newsE8Domain trade245.com was created on 14 April 2020, consistent with the brand opening in 2020 and Trade245 (Pty) Ltd being registered in 2020, so there is no age misrepresentation.
WeakWHOIS recordE9The FSCA record for Red Pine Capital shows no trading name entry, so the Trade245 brand under which clients are solicited is not itself recorded on the licence, a transparency gap.
ModerateFSCA FAIS register (official)
The other side
The strongest case in this broker’s favour.
Here is the fair case for Trade245.
- Its main licence is real. We saw Red Pine Capital, FSP 46044, listed as authorised on the FSCA register since December 2015.
- The derivatives counterparty, RocketX, also holds a genuine FSCA licence, FSP 52142, authorised in 2023.
- The company discloses its registered entities, registration numbers and a Menlyn office address, which pure scam sites rarely do.
- Some Hellopeter reviews are positive, and a share of complaints are ordinary trading gripes rather than fund theft.
- Claims elsewhere that it simply stole Red Pine's licence are contradicted by its own compliance documents, which describe a representative relationship.
What would change this
What we would need to see to revise the verdict.
Our view would move if the facts below changed.
- Toward safe: a consistent record of paid withdrawals, the Trustpilot profile claimed with complaints resolved, and Trade245 clearly listed as a representative or trading name on the FSCA record.
- Toward scam: a warning from the FSCA, FCA or another regulator naming trade245.com, the FSCA licence being withdrawn, or evidence that the representative link to Red Pine Capital is not genuine.
Check it yourself
Official registers and warning lists. Verify every claim first-hand.
FSCA register - search FSP 46044 and 52142
Official FSCA licence check for Red Pine Capital and RocketX
Trade245 website
The broker's own site and its regulation claims
WikiFX dealer profile
Aggregator profile and complaint summary
Trustpilot reviews
Customer reviews and rating distribution
BAPPEBTI blocked-site disclosure
Indonesia's list of blocked, locally unlicensed trading sites
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about this broker’s safety.
Is Trade245 a scam?
We do not rate it a confirmed scam, but we rate it high risk. It holds a genuine FSCA licence in South Africa, yet many customers report that they cannot withdraw their money. Deposit only with great caution, if at all.
Is Trade245 regulated?
Yes, in South Africa. It operates as an authorised representative of Red Pine Capital (Pty) Ltd, which holds FSCA licence FSP 46044, and its derivatives counterparty RocketX (Pty) Ltd holds FSP 52142. We confirmed both on the FSCA register. It has no tier-1 licence such as the FCA or ASIC.
Can I withdraw my money from Trade245?
Many users say withdrawals are the main problem. Reviews describe long delays, repeated document requests, demands to trade more first, and outright refusals. Some report disabled accounts during withdrawal. Treat withdrawal access as uncertain.
Is my money safe with Trade245?
The FSCA sets conduct standards, but there is no compensation fund covering forex or CFD trading losses in South Africa. Combined with the withdrawal complaints, your funds are not strongly protected.
Who owns and operates Trade245?
The brand is run by Trade245 (Pty) Ltd and Trade245 Global (Pty) Ltd, operating under Red Pine Capital (Pty) Ltd, a South African FSCA-licensed firm registered in 2014. RocketX (Pty) Ltd acts as the derivatives counterparty.
How old is Trade245?
The trade245.com domain was created in April 2020 and the brand opened around mid 2020. The licence holder Red Pine Capital has been FSCA-authorised since December 2015.
What is FSP 46044 and is it real?
FSP 46044 is a genuine FSCA licence held by Red Pine Capital (Pty) Ltd, authorised for advice, intermediary and discretionary services in derivatives and other instruments. We verified it as active on the FSCA register. Trade245 uses it as a representative, rather than holding its own licence.
Is Trade245 a clone broker?
No. It is not impersonating a famous regulated firm. The Red Pine Capital and RocketX licences it relies on are genuinely its own affiliated South African entities, confirmed on the FSCA register.
Why is Trade245 blocked in Indonesia?
Indonesia's regulator BAPPEBTI added the site to its 2022 list of blocked trading platforms that operate without a local Indonesian licence. This is a solicitation and licensing issue in that country, not proof of fraud.
What do reviews say about Trade245?
They are mostly negative on trader platforms. Trustpilot shows a 2.5 score with 80 percent of reviews at one star, and WikiFX scores it about 2 out of 10, both citing unresolved withdrawal complaints.
What should I check before depositing with Trade245?
Confirm the FSCA licences yourself, read recent withdrawal reviews, ask in writing how and how fast withdrawals are paid, and start with a tiny test amount. If protection matters, choose a tier-1 regulated broker instead.
What can I do if I was scammed or cannot withdraw?
Keep all trade, chat and payment records, submit a formal withdrawal request in writing, and lodge a complaint with the FSCA in South Africa. Be wary of recovery services that ask for an upfront fee, as many are follow-on scams.
What we recommend
The practical takeaway from everything above.
Treat Trade245 with caution.
- Do not deposit money you cannot afford to lose, and if you test it at all, start with the smallest amount possible.
- Before depositing, ask in writing how withdrawals are processed and keep every confirmation.
- If capital protection matters to you, prefer a broker with tier-1 regulation such as the FCA, ASIC or CySEC.
- If you are already unable to withdraw, raise a formal complaint with the FSCA in South Africa and keep all trade and payment records.
This is an independent assessment of risk, not a legal ruling. Scores and verdicts follow the Wikilix broker-safety methodology and can change as new evidence appears. Review scores are treated with caution when a broker’s reviews look manipulated. Last reviewed August 5, 2026. If any detail here is out of date or incorrect, or you represent this broker, please contact us.