1. Company Overview
SNOK Group, officially known as SNOK Group Limited, was established on May 17, 2021. The company is headquartered in China and operates primarily in the online trading sector. It is a private entity and is not publicly traded. The broker primarily targets retail clients, particularly those in Asia, offering services in forex trading, commodities, cryptocurrencies, indices, and shares.
The SNOK Group has faced scrutiny and has been flagged by various regulatory bodies, notably the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong, which has raised concerns regarding its legitimacy. The broker has been accused of failing to allow clients to withdraw funds, which has led to numerous complaints and warnings against it.
With a focus on retail forex trading, SNOK Group aims to provide a platform for individual traders to access the financial markets. However, the lack of transparency regarding its operations and regulatory compliance has raised significant red flags.
SNOK Group is not licensed by any reputable financial regulatory authority, which is a major concern for potential investors. The SFC of Hong Kong has explicitly warned against trading with SNOK Group, indicating that it operates without proper oversight. The company was previously associated with an Australian entity, SNOK Group Pty Ltd, which had its license revoked by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
- Regulatory Bodies: The primary regulatory body warning against SNOK Group is the SFC of Hong Kong.
- License Numbers: The broker does not possess a valid license number, reflecting its unregulated status.
- License Validity and Scope: There is no current valid license, and the scope of operations remains highly questionable.
- Legal Entities in Different Regions: SNOK Group operates as an unlicensed entity, raising concerns about its legitimacy.
- Client Fund Segregation Policy: There is no information available regarding the segregation of client funds, which is essential for protecting investor capital.
- Investor Compensation Fund Participation: SNOK Group does not participate in any investor compensation schemes.
- KYC and AML Compliance Measures: The broker's compliance with Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations is not clearly defined, further indicating a lack of regulatory oversight.
3. Trading Products and Services
SNOK Group claims to offer a diverse range of trading products that cater to various market interests:
- Forex Currency Pairs: The broker provides access to multiple forex pairs, though specific numbers and major pairs are not clearly detailed.
- CFD Product Categories: SNOK Group advertises a variety of CFDs, including commodities (such as cotton and sugar), cryptocurrencies (including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Ripple), indices, and shares.
- Unique Products: While the broker claims to offer a broad range of instruments, the lack of transparency regarding specific product offerings is concerning.
- Product Update Frequency: There is no publicly available information on how frequently new products are added to their platform.
- Retail Trading Services: The broker focuses on retail trading, providing individual traders access to various financial markets.
- Institutional Client Services: There is no clear indication that SNOK Group offers services tailored for institutional clients.
- White Label Solutions: Information on white label solutions is not available.
- Asset Management Services: The broker does not appear to offer asset management services, further limiting its appeal to a broader client base.
SNOK Group provides access to the widely recognized MetaTrader 5 (MT5) trading platform, which is known for its advanced trading capabilities:
- MT4/MT5 Support: The broker supports the MT5 platform, offering traders access to advanced trading tools and over 50 technical indicators.
- Proprietary Platform Details: There is no indication that SNOK Group has developed a proprietary trading platform.
- Web-Based Trading Platform: Information regarding a web-based trading platform is not available, as most details about their services remain vague.
- Mobile Application Support: There is no specific mention of mobile applications for iOS or Android, which could limit trading flexibility for users.
- Execution Model: The exact execution model (whether ECN, STP, or Market Making) is not disclosed, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the broker's operations.
- Server Locations and Infrastructure: The infrastructure details are not well-documented, raising concerns about the reliability and speed of trade execution.
- API Access and Automated Trading Support: There is no information indicating support for API access or automated trading options, which are essential features for many traders.
5. Account Types and Trading Conditions
SNOK Group reportedly offers a single type of trading account, but specific details are scarce:
- Standard Account Conditions: Information regarding minimum deposits, spreads, and commissions is not clearly outlined.
- Advanced Account Types: There is no mention of VIP or professional account types.
- Special Accounts: The broker does not provide details on special accounts such as Islamic or corporate accounts.
- Demo Account Policy: The availability of demo accounts is not specified, which is a significant drawback for new traders.
- Leverage Ratios: The leverage offered is not disclosed, making it difficult for traders to understand potential risks.
- Minimum Trade Sizes: Specific minimum trade sizes are not provided, leaving traders uncertain about their trading capabilities.
- Overnight Fees Policy: There is no clear information regarding overnight fees, which can impact trading costs.
6. Fund Management
SNOK Group's fund management practices raise several concerns:
- Supported Deposit Methods: The broker reportedly accepts bank transfers and wire transfers, but specific details are lacking.
- Minimum Deposit Requirements: There is no clear information available regarding minimum deposit amounts for different account types.
- Deposit Processing Times: The time taken to process deposits is not specified, leading to potential delays for traders.
- Deposit Fees: Information regarding any fees associated with deposits is not disclosed.
- Withdrawal Methods and Restrictions: The broker's withdrawal methods and any potential restrictions remain unclear.
- Withdrawal Processing Times: There are no specific details on how long withdrawals take, which is crucial for traders needing access to their funds.
- Withdrawal Fee Structure: The fee structure for withdrawals is not provided, adding to potential costs for users.
7. Customer Support and Educational Resources
SNOK Group offers limited customer support options:
- Support Channels: Customer support can be reached via email, but there are no other direct contact channels such as phone or live chat.
- Service Hours and Time Zone Coverage: Specific service hours and time zone coverage are not mentioned, which may affect response times.
- Multilingual Support: The languages supported by the customer service team are not disclosed, which could limit accessibility for non-English speakers.
- Types of Educational Resources: There is no information available on educational resources such as webinars, tutorials, or e-books.
- Market Analysis Services: The broker does not provide details on market analysis services, which can be essential for traders.
- Trading Tools: There is no mention of trading tools like calculators or signal services that could aid traders in their decision-making.
8. Regional Coverage and Restrictions
SNOK Group's operational regions and restrictions are not well-defined:
- Main Service Markets: The broker primarily targets clients in Asia, but specific countries are not listed.
- Regional Office Distribution: There is no information available on the distribution of regional offices.
- Countries/Regions Not Accepted: The broker does not specify which countries or regions it does not accept clients from, creating uncertainty.
- Special Restrictions: Any special restrictions on trading or account opening are not mentioned.
In conclusion, potential clients should approach SNOK Group with caution due to its unregulated status, lack of transparency, and numerous complaints regarding fund withdrawals. The absence of clear information on various aspects of its operations raises significant concerns about the reliability and trustworthiness of the broker. Always conduct thorough research and consider regulated alternatives before engaging with any trading platform.
FX3016340819
United States
My Snok Group account was liquidated and sent to etoro.zone without my approval - it says it’s connected to my metamask wallet but I have no control of the 100K+ funds in etoro.zone. i don’t receive any returned emails from service@snokgroup.com - they say my account is to small. Legal of licensing entity- Please be advised that SNOK Group Pty Ltd ceased being an authorised representative of Non Correlated Capital Pty Ltd ("NCC") on 2 November 2021, and cannot operate outside of Australia
Exposure
2022-03-03