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Why are accounts frozen in overseas forex trading? We'll explain in detail how to unfreeze them and what to do to prevent it

Posted by: MoneyChat Editorial Department

I'm interested in overseas forex trading, but if I come across reviews saying things like "My account got frozen!", I'd be worried about whether it's safe to use

That being said, account freezing is a penalty for users who violate the terms of service, so it's a problem that can occur even with domestic FX trading

Also, depending on the reason for the account freeze, it may be possible to unfreeze it, so please don't worry

This article will explain the basics of overseas forex account freezes, along with how to unfreeze them

Beginners in overseas forex trading are strongly encouraged to read the Complete Guide to Overseas Forex Trading for Beginners

Contents

What is an overseas forex account freeze?

What exactly does it mean for an overseas forex account to be frozen?

First, we will explain the basic information regarding the freezing of overseas forex accounts, starting with the points listed below

Even though it's called account freezing, it's not a particularly difficult problem if you understand the key points, so please don't worry

Trading accounts are frozen and become "invalid accounts"

Account freezing, in short, meansThe account will be frozen and become an "invalid account"This refers to..

If you try to log in to an overseas forex broker using MT4 or MT5 and it displays as an invalid account, preventing you from trading, then your account is frozen

Even if one account is frozen, you may still be able to trade or log in to your member page if your other accounts are not frozen.

Failure to comply with the terms of service and neglecting your account can lead to account suspension

If your account is frozen with an overseas forex broker, there are basically two possible reasons:

Let's take a quick look at the process by which accounts are frozen in each case

Violation of the terms of service set by the overseas forex broker

Due to the freezing of overseas forex accountsThe most common reason is "violation of the terms of service set by the overseas forex broker."vinegar

Overseas forex brokers have established several terms of service to prevent fraudulent trading and criminal activity

The following are some of the prohibited actions that are common to many overseas forex brokers

  • Restrictions on scalping
  • Acts of a third party using an account
  • Unauthorized acquisition and misuse of bonuses
  • Hedging across multiple accounts
  • Arbitrage

If any transactions or activities fall under these prohibited items, the overseas forex broker may freeze the account as a penalty

" Checking the Prohibited Actions of Overseas Forex Brokers " which will be discussed later, be sure to carefully review the prohibited actions of overseas forex brokers.

The account was frozen due to being inactive for an extended period

Overseas forex brokers may freeze accounts that have not been used for a long period of time

Generally, the process by which overseas forex accounts that have not been used for a long period of time are frozen is as follows:

  1. An account becomes dormant if there are no transactions, deposits, withdrawals, or open positions for an extended period
  2. If an account becomes dormant, a fixed monthly account maintenance fee will be paid from the trading account
  3. Dormant accounts with a balance of 0 yen will be frozen after a certain period of time

Note that if you make any transactions or deposits/withdrawals while your account is dormant, you can avoid having your account frozen

Regarding account maintenance fees, no fees are charged if the account balance is 0 yen. It's a good idea to withdraw all funds from accounts you don't plan to use for an extended period 

Unscrupulous companies may unjustly freeze accounts

Even if you use overseas forex trading without violating the terms of service, there are unscrupulous brokers who freeze your account for unfair reasons

In particular, overseas forex brokers refer to all forex brokers located outside of Japan, so the number is large, and there are many dubious forex brokers that are not regulated by the authorities of any country

Therefore, to avoid unfair account freezing, it is essential to use an overseas forex broker that holds a financial license

Can an account freeze at an overseas forex broker be lifted?

Some people may be worried about whether their overseas forex account can be unfrozen if it is

There are two scenarios in which an account freeze with overseas forex trading can be lifted: one where it can be done and one where it cannot. We will explain each of these scenarios

You can cancel it by re-registering

If your dormant account, which has not been used for a long period, is frozen, you can have the account frozen again by re-registering

Please register your account again or open an additional account to resume trading

If you need to re-register your account,You must register using the email address you previously registered

Registering with a different email address or under a third party's name violates the terms of service and carries the risk of forced account termination, so you should not do so

Forced withdrawal does not allow for the account freeze to be lifted

If you are forcibly removed from the service and your trading account is frozen, it cannot be unfrozen

One of the most severe penalties in overseas forex trading is forced account termination

Malicious fraudulent transactions and repeated violations of the terms of service may result in forced termination of your account

If your account is terminated, you will no longer be able to use the same overseas forex broker

How to avoid account freezing when trading overseas forex?

To avoid account freezing with overseas forex trading, keep the following four points in mind

If you follow these steps, you're unlikely to have your account frozen in overseas forex trading. They're all easy to implement, so make sure you understand the key points

Check the prohibited practices of overseas forex brokers

To avoid having your account frozen when trading overseas forex, it's essential to check the prohibited activities

Specifically, the following prohibited actions are common rules established by most overseas forex brokers

Let's take a closer look at what specific transactions and actions are prohibited

Restrictions on scalping

Scalping itself is permitted by many overseas forex brokers

However, it's important to note that some brokers may prohibit scalping or have restrictions on certain trading methods

For example, high-frequency trading (HFT), which involves making large trades every second, is restricted by many overseas forex brokers

Acts of a third party using an account

Using an account by a third party is prohibited by all overseas forex brokers

Lending your account or acting as an intermediary for transactions is strictly prohibited , result in penalties such as forced account termination and refusal of withdrawals if discovered

Furthermore, opening an account with an overseas forex broker using someone else's name or identification documents is prohibited

Unauthorized acquisition and misuse of bonuses

It is prohibited to abuse bonus campaigns offered by overseas forex brokers or to obtain bonuses fraudulently

If you profit from trading by exploiting loopholes in the bonus system, the relevant trade will be canceled, and withdrawal will be refused along with the account freezing

Also, be sure to check the terms and conditions of the bonus campaign to avoid violating any rules

Hedging across multiple accounts

Hedging across multiple accounts is a trading method prohibited by many overseas forex brokers

Hedging across multiple accounts

Specifically, this includes transactions where you perform hedging across different accounts, as described below

  • Company A (Account A) holds a long position in USD/JPY
  • Company B (account B) holds a short position in USD/JPY

In this manner, holding opposing positions in the same security across multiple accounts, whether with other companies or in additional accounts within the same account, is called hedging across multiple accounts.

One thing to be careful about when hedging across multiple accounts is when you are running multiple automated trading systems targeting the same stock

Be aware that if automated trading unintentionally creates a hedging loop across multiple accounts, there is a risk of your account being frozen

Arbitrage

Arbitrage is a trading method that profits from small discrepancies in the market, such as differences in exchange rates, delays, and differences in swap points

Arbitrage

For example, latency arbitrage involves observing the performance of a broker that reflects market movements earlier, such as company A or company B, and then trading with the broker experiencing the delay

Arbitrage trading is subject to penalties such as the cancellation of profits and the freezing of accounts

Choose a reliable overseas forex broker

To avoid problems caused by account freezing, it is important to choose a reliable overseas forex broker

Choosing a highly reliable overseas forex broker can help you avoid the risk of your account being unfairly frozen

Furthermore, highly reliable overseas forex brokers offer greater transparency in their terms of service, allowing you to thoroughly check what trading methods are prohibited

For reliable overseas forex brokers that won't unfairly refuse withdrawals, please refer to How to identify overseas forex brokers that won't unfairly refuse withdrawals

Avoid brokers that are rumored to refuse withdrawals due to excessive earnings

Avoid using overseas forex brokers where there are many rumors of accounts being frozen due to excessive earnings, even if you haven't violated their terms of service

Furthermore, traders with substantial capital are advised to diversify their funds across multiple overseas forex brokers, even those without a reputation for unfair account freezes .

Diversifying your funds can help you avoid leverage restrictions and mitigate problems such as delays in large withdrawals

Trade regularly with the minimum lot size

To avoid having your account frozen due to inactivity, it is recommended to "trade regularly with the minimum lot size."

With many overseas forex brokers, your account will not become dormant as long as you continue to trade, regardless of the lot size

By trading in the minimum unit of 0.01 lots, you can avoid dormant accounts and prevent account freezing without incurring account maintenance fees

How to identify overseas forex brokers that do not unfairly freeze accounts

You can identify overseas forex brokers that do not unfairly freeze accounts by looking at the following five points

By understanding the key points, you can create an environment where you can focus on trading without worrying about your account being frozen

Use an overseas forex broker that has obtained a financial license

To avoid unfair account freezing, use a highly secure overseas forex broker

To find a highly secure overseas forex broker, the first thing to check is whether they have obtained a "financial license."

A financial license refers obtaining authorization from an overseas financial authority to operate as an FX broker, similar to how domestic FX brokers are authorized by the Financial Services Agency .

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You can find the financial license registration number on the official website of the overseas forex broker. Using this registration number, you can also verify the actual registration status on the financial authority's official website

The rules of the transaction are highly transparent

Account freezing is a risk even with overseas forex brokers that hold financial licenses, as it can be implemented as a penalty for violating their terms of service

Therefore, it is important to choose an overseas forex broker that is highly transparent regarding prohibited actions and rules related to trading

For example, even if there are restrictions on scalping, we check things like how long positions need to be held and whether the specific rules are clearly published

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If the trading rules are vaguely stated, there is a risk of problems occurring, such as "I had no problems with other companies' accounts, but this company froze my account."

They do not run excessive bonus campaigns

Trading using bonus campaigns is a unique advantage of overseas forex brokers

However, some shady overseas forex brokers that unfairly freeze accounts may be running excessive bonus campaigns in order to collect funds from customers

In particular, if a new broker is offering bonus amounts greater than those of major brokers, it's generally safer to avoid opening an account with them

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In the past, there have been cases of overseas forex brokers offering generous bonus campaigns until just days before bankruptcy, only to fail to return funds after the bankruptcy. If you're looking for bonuses, it's safer to choose large, established companies like Vantage Trading or XMTrading

Our latest overseas forex bonus rankings feature overseas forex bonus information that also takes safety into consideration.

Member of the Financial Services Commission

To protect against unfair account freezes, we recommend choosing an overseas forex broker that is a member of the Financial Commission

The Financial Services Commission is a specialized body that resolves disputes between FX brokers and their customers

In the event of unfair withdrawal refusal or account freezing, the Financial Services Commission will intervene, and compensation will be paid in the event of any issues.

There are no bad rumors regarding account freezing or withdrawal refusals

Checking for any negative rumors regarding account freezing or withdrawal refusals is also an important point to consider

For example, you should avoid using overseas forex brokers where there are numerous reviews on social media indicating that accounts have been frozen even though no particularly problematic transactions have occurred

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With larger overseas forex brokers, you're more likely to find user reviews about accounts being frozen due to mistakes in checking the terms of service. Therefore, it's important to refer to information that explains the circumstances leading to account freezes

Our overseas forex broker recommendation comparison ranking thoroughly investigates actual reputations and customer reviews.

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Account Freezing at Overseas Forex Brokers

Can accounts be frozen even in domestic FX trading?

Yes, we do

For example, this could include cases where there are deficiencies in the identity verification documents or where transactions that violate the Financial Services Agency's guidelines (e.g., deposits and withdrawals suspected of being money laundering) are conducted

Because domestic FX trading is monitored by the Financial Services Agency, violations of the terms of service tend to be dealt with more strictly

Also, be aware that some brokers that prohibit scalping may impose trading restrictions

What are some examples of cases where overseas forex accounts were frozen and went to court?

There have been reports of cases, albeit few, that have actually gone to court

In particular, this includes cases where users have sued service providers in situations where withdrawals were refused or frozen funds were not returned

However, since most overseas forex brokers are based abroad, filing a lawsuit would require high costs and international procedures, making it practically difficult for individuals to initiate legal action

Why are my overseas forex accounts being frozen?

The main reason is that you have violated the terms and conditions of the service provider

Examples include hedging across multiple accounts, fraudulent use of bonuses, and high-frequency scalping

In addition, accounts that have been left inactive for a period of time may also be frozen

Is it possible for an account to be frozen even if no violations have occurred?

It's not possible to say with absolute certainty that it never happens. First of all, among the many FX brokers, there are fraudulent companies that unfairly freeze accounts

Therefore, the first thing to do is to choose a highly secure overseas forex broker . Also, it seems that some account freezing issues can occur due to errors in automated systems.

If you have no idea why this is happening, first try contacting support and explaining the situation to them

Will the funds in my frozen account be returned?

If it is determined that there was no violation of the terms and conditions, you will almost always be able to withdraw your balance

However, some companies may take longer to respond

What precautions should I take to avoid having my account frozen?

You can reduce the risk of your account being frozen by keeping the following points in mind

  • Do not use hedging with multiple accounts
  • Avoid repeatedly placing unnaturally fast orders
  • Avoid trading that attempts to exploit loopholes in bonuses
  • Use an overseas forex broker that has obtained a financial license
  • Avoid brokers that are rumored to refuse withdrawals due to excessive earnings
  • Trade regularly with the minimum lot size

Is there a way to check if my account with an overseas forex broker has been frozen?

If you experience symptoms such as being unable to log in, sudden suspension of transactions, or receiving a warning email from support, your account may have been frozen

If you think this might be the case, the best course of action is to contact support first to confirm

Will my frozen account become usable again?

If there are no violations, or if the issue is minor, such as the account being frozen due to being dormant, it may be unfrozen

You may be asked to re-register your account or explain your trading history, but in some cases, your account can be reactivated if you respond politely

However, if a serious violation of the terms and conditions is deemed to occur, the account may be permanently frozen or terminated

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