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A Trading Firm Took My Money and Disappeared

“A trading firm took my money and disappeared. I've seen the news stories about scams like this, but nobody tells you what you're actually supposed to do next.”

This is an investment fraud matter, most often involving a firm that was never genuinely licensed to take money from investors in the first place, which makes it primarily a criminal matter for the police and, separately, a question of whether any identifiable person, entity or asset can realistically be traced and pursued.

You've probably already seen plenty of news coverage about investment scams like this one, and almost none of it tells you what to actually do once it's happened to you. That gap is exactly what this page is for. LEXNOVA can help you describe your situation and explore lawyers experienced in investment fraud and asset recovery — LEXNOVA is not a regulator or investigator, does not recover money, and won't promise you an outcome no one can honestly guarantee.

LAST REVIEWED 21 SEPTEMBER 2026

WHERE THIS IS HANDLED

The relevant police economic crime or cybercrime unit for a criminal complaint; the CMA, the DFSA, or the FSRA to check whether the firm was ever genuinely licensed and, if so, to raise a regulatory complaint; Sanadak, if the firm was a licensed bank or insurance-linked institution rather than an unlicensed operator; and the civil courts for tracing and recovery where a real, identifiable target can be found.

How the answer changes by jurisdiction

  • Dubai mainland

    Onshore securities and investment activity is regulated federally by the Capital Market Authority (CMA), successor to the former Securities and Commodities Authority. If the firm claimed to be CMA-licensed, this can be checked against the CMA's register — though many firms behind these scams were never licensed at all. A criminal report for the fraud itself goes to Dubai Police.

  • DIFC

    Investment, advisory, and fund management activity within the DIFC is regulated by the DFSA, and a firm claiming DIFC licensing can be checked against the DFSA's own records. As with the onshore market, a genuine DFSA licence is uncommon among firms running outright investment scams.

  • Abu Dhabi mainland

    The same federal CMA framework that applies in Dubai governs onshore investment activity connected to Abu Dhabi, and a criminal report goes to Abu Dhabi Police. There is no separate Abu Dhabi-specific securities regulator distinct from the federal CMA.

  • ADGM

    Investment and asset management activity within ADGM is regulated by the FSRA, and a firm claiming ADGM licensing can be checked against the FSRA's register. Where the firm was never genuinely licensed there either, the FSRA's role, like the other regulators', is mainly to confirm that absence.

WHAT YOU CAN DO NEXT

STEP 01

Preserve every document connected to the investment

Save account statements, marketing material, correspondence, payment confirmations, and any app or website access you still have, even screenshots if the platform later disappears. This is the raw material any investigation or claim will need, and it can vanish quickly once a firm shuts down.

STEP 02

Report to the police without delay

File a report with the relevant police economic crime or cybercrime unit as soon as you realise something is genuinely wrong, rather than waiting to see if the firm reappears. Early reporting matters both for any investigation and, in some cases, for the criminal justice system's ability to freeze remaining assets before they disappear entirely.

STEP 03

Check whether the firm was ever genuinely licensed

If the firm claimed to be regulated by the CMA, the DFSA, or the FSRA, verify this against the relevant regulator's public register. Confirming it was never actually licensed strengthens your fraud report and helps rule out routes that would otherwise waste your time.

STEP 04

File a regulatory complaint if the firm was genuinely licensed

If the firm did hold a genuine licence and the dispute concerns how it conducted regulated business rather than outright fraud, a complaint to the relevant regulator — or to Sanadak, if it was a licensed bank or insurance-linked institution — may be a meaningful additional route alongside any criminal report.

STEP 05

Be honest with yourself about what recovery realistically looks like

Some investment fraud cases do lead to meaningful recovery, particularly where remaining assets can be identified and frozen quickly. Many others do not, especially where the firm operated from outside the UAE or moved money out of reach before investors realised what was happening. A lawyer experienced in this area will give you a realistic assessment rather than a comforting one.

STEP 06

Watch for recovery scams targeting you a second time

Investment fraud victims are frequently approached afterward by people or firms promising to recover their losses for an upfront fee. Treat any such approach with serious suspicion and verify independently before paying anyone anything, ideally through a lawyer you've chosen yourself.

STEP 07

Consider civil and criminal tracks together

A criminal case and a civil recovery claim can often run in parallel, and evidence gathered for one can sometimes support the other. Your lawyer can advise on how to sequence these so one doesn't undermine the other, particularly where multiple victims and cross-border elements are involved.

START YOUR REQUEST

Tell Us About Your Situation.

The matter type is already set to CMA Securities Regulation (formerly SCA), so the form begins with your location. LEXNOVA is a lawyer-matching service, not a law firm — any legal advice comes directly from the independent legal professional you are connected with.

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FAQ

It depends heavily on whether the firm's remaining assets can be found and frozen, and how many other victims and how much money are involved. Some cases do result in meaningful recovery; many don't, particularly once a firm has already dispersed funds or fled — a lawyer can only give you an honest picture once they understand the specifics of your case.

Preserve every document you have connected to the investment, and report to the police economic crime or cybercrime unit as soon as possible. Acting quickly gives investigators and lawyers the best chance of finding and freezing whatever assets remain.

Check the firm's claimed regulator's public register directly — the CMA for onshore securities activity, the DFSA for DIFC, or the FSRA for ADGM. Many firms behind these scams either never held a licence or claimed one they didn't actually have.

Yes — operating an unlicensed investment scheme is itself unlawful, and your report can support a criminal investigation regardless of whether the firm held a licence. It also matters for you personally, since it's usually a required step before other remedies can be pursued.

Often all three, in different roles — police for the criminal side, a regulator if the firm was genuinely licensed and the complaint concerns its regulated conduct, and the civil courts for any recovery claim once a real target is identified. A lawyer can help you sequence these correctly.

It can be relevant evidence, since guaranteed high returns are a common hallmark of investment fraud and can support both a criminal complaint and, where applicable, a regulatory one. Keep any marketing material or messages where this was promised.

This is common, and it doesn't necessarily change your options — if that person was acting as an unlicensed introducer or agent for a fraudulent scheme, they may have their own exposure, criminal or civil. Explain the full relationship clearly to your lawyer rather than only focusing on the firm itself.

Be very cautious. Fraud victims are frequently targeted a second time by so-called recovery specialists, and you should independently verify anyone you engage, ideally through a lawyer of your own choosing, before paying them anything upfront.

It varies widely depending on how many victims are involved, whether assets can be located, and whether the matter proceeds criminally, civilly, or both. There's no reliable general timeline, and a lawyer handling your specific case can give you a more grounded sense as the investigation develops.

This is common with these schemes and adds real complexity, potentially involving foreign regulators or legal processes. It doesn't automatically mean nothing can be done, but it does change the realistic path — a lawyer with cross-border fraud experience can explain what's genuinely available.

Often, yes, and doing so can sometimes strengthen an investigation or a civil claim, particularly where the same firm or individuals defrauded multiple people using the same scheme. Mention any other known victims clearly when you report and when you speak to a lawyer.

No — reporting to the police does not use up or reduce your ability to pursue a civil claim later, and in practice the two often support each other. There's no good reason to delay a police report out of concern about this.

This happens to careful, intelligent people, not just to those who weren't paying attention — professional fraud schemes are specifically designed to look credible. Embarrassment is a completely understandable reaction, but it shouldn't stop you from reporting, since delay genuinely reduces your options.

Only if the firm was a genuinely licensed bank or insurance-linked institution and your complaint concerns how it conducted its business — Sanadak is the UAE's financial and insurance ombudsman for complaints against licensed institutions, not a general fraud-reporting channel for unlicensed operators.

No. LEXNOVA is not a law firm, a regulator, or an investigation service, and does not investigate firms or recover funds. LEXNOVA helps you describe your situation and explore potentially suitable lawyers who handle investment fraud and asset recovery.

Account statements, all correspondence and marketing material from the firm, proof of every payment you made, and a clear timeline of how you were approached and what you were told. The more complete this picture is, the more useful the first conversation will be.

LEXNOVA is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, legal opinions, legal representation, or legal services. Any legal advice or representation is provided directly by the independent legal professional engaged by the client.

A connection or introduction does not constitute a guarantee, endorsement, or assurance of outcome. Users should independently confirm the professional's qualifications, authorization, fees, scope of engagement, and suitability.

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