Plus500AU Imposter (novaprotrades.com) – Scam or Legit? ASIC Warning and Impersonation Risk Explained

Plus500AU Imposter operating at novaprotrades.com is not the official platform of Plus500AU or any authorised financial service. It has been publicly flagged by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and included on Australia’s MoneySmart Investor Alert List, meaning regulators believe it may be used to mislead investors by impersonating a legitimate trading service.

This review explains what “impersonation” means in this context, why novaprotrades.com is high-risk, common impersonation tactics, and steps to take if you have already interacted with the site.

What Is Plus500AU Imposter (novaprotrades.com)?

Plus500AU is a genuine, regulated CFD and trading services provider authorised by ASIC under the licence Plus500UK Ltd (AFSL 417727). The official website for the regulated entity is plus500.com.au (or UK/EU domain variants for other regions).

The domain novaprotrades.com is not associated with the legitimate Plus500AU platform, and regulators have explicitly warned about such impostor cases as part of broader investor protection alerts.

This situation is known as a brand impersonation scam — scammers create websites that look similar to legitimate financial firms to deceive users into depositing funds or divulging sensitive information.

ASIC / MoneySmart Warning: Why It Matters

Australia’s MoneySmart Investor Alert List includes entities that appear to be offering financial services without the required licencing. The inclusion of novaprotrades.com on that list signals that this site is not authorised by ASIC to provide trading or investment services in Australia.

The purpose of the MoneySmart list is to warn the public before they lose money to unregulated or fraudulent schemes. By appearing there, the domain carries the regulatory equivalent of a red flag.

Scam or Legit? Here’s the Clear Answer

novaprotrades.com is not a legitimate, authorised version of Plus500AU.
It is an impersonator site using a look-alike brand strategy.

Legitimate financial services:

• Disclose regulatory licence numbers that match official registers
• Provide verifiable corporate information
• Use official domain names (e.g., plus500.com or plus500.com.au)
• Never rely on look-alike names or URLs

By contrast, novaprotrades.com:

• Is not listed on any official ASIC register
• Does not show legitimate licence information
• Does not match the genuine entity’s domain
• Appears on a regulator alert list

This combination means its operations must be treated as high-risk and unauthorised.

How Impersonator Scams Work

Impersonation scams often follow a predictable pattern:

1. Fake domain that looks plausible — e.g., slight variations or unrelated brand mash-ups
2. Professional design and “login” portals — to build trust quickly
3. Deposits requested into wallets or accounts they control
4. Pressure messaging or “limited time” offers
5. Lack of clear regulatory disclosures or licence verification tools

These elements make an impostor site look real at a glance, but the underlying legality and accountability do not match.

Key Red Flags With novaprotrades.com

• ❌ Listed on ASIC/MoneySmart’s Investor Alert List as an unlicensed offering
• ❌ Domain name does not match the genuine licensed entity
• ❌ No verifiable company disclosure or licence number
• ❌ Impersonation strategy using a well-known brand name
• ❌ Potential for credential harvesting or unauthorized deposits

When a site tries to look like a regulated entity but does not match the official domain and licence information, it is a classic impersonation risk.

How to Verify Legitimate Financial Services

Before depositing funds on any trading or investment platform:

1. Check the regulator’s official register
   • ASIC’s “Financial Services Register” lists authorised providers.
   • The legitimate Plus500AU is listed; novaprotrades.com is not.
2. Verify the domain carefully
   • The genuine service uses official domain(s).
   • Any variation should be treated with suspicion.
3. Confirm licence numbers online
   • If a site lists an ASIC licence number, confirm it via the official register.

What to Do If You Have Already Deposited

If you have already sent funds or cryptocurrency to novaprotrades.com and are unable to withdraw:

1. Stop sending additional payments immediately (especially if asked for “verification fees,” “tax,” or “liquidity fees”).
2. Preserve all evidence:
   • Screenshots of the account and deposit confirmation
   • Emails, chat logs, phone records
   • Transaction hashes and wallet addresses
3. Document a timeline of how, when, and with whom you interacted.

At this point, a specialist such as Forteclaim may be relevant. Recovery professionals assist with:

• Tracing transactions on-chain or through financial rails
• Organizing evidence for recovery efforts
• Advising on next steps based on how funds moved

Acting quickly increases the ability to preserve traceable evidence.

Final Verdict on Plus500AU Imposter (novaprotrades.com)

novaprotrades.com is not a legitimate or authorised financial services platform. It has been listed on Australia’s MoneySmart Investor Alert List for impersonating a known brand and operating without licence.

Investors are strongly advised to avoid depositing funds into this site. If funds have already been sent, preserve all evidence and consider professional guidance promptly.