ApexTrader(apex-trader.net or apextrader.com, or atf.com) is a scam broker that has been impersonating a legitimate broker called Apex Trader Funding, apextraderfunding.com. It has been operating in the same manner as BBMarkets(pc.blueberry-market.com). This fraudulent domain has been mimicking Blueberry Australia(blueberrymarkets.com), a legitimate trading platform regulated by the ASIC.
Apex Trader Domain Lookup
According to the WHO.IS, the apex-trader.net domain, which is no longer reachable, was created in 2025. Its apextrader.com counterpart, which is also unreachable, was registered in 2017.
According to my probe, there is also a strong possibility that ApexTrader may also be linked to the atf.com domain.
The domain lookup tool above shows that this questionable domain, which is similarly no longer reachable, was created in 1995.
I found that atf.com is currently listed for sale and open to offers. If you type and search it, your browser will redirect you to a notice showing that it’s currently on auction due to an ongoing federal lawsuit against the prior owner for failing to fulfill financial commitments.
It appears ApexTrader initially used the apextrader.com domain before abandoning it and switching to apex-trader.net. According to the domain lookup tool above, the latter was registered roughly three months ago at the time of this writing, and it’s also currently unreachable.
It seems that the scammer(s) behind ApexTrader have gone off the radar for now after defrauding many. I remain on the lookout for any suspicious domain linked to ApexTrader that may pop up.
Regulatory Alerts
ApexTrader was flagged by the FCA in August 2025 for operating in the UK as an unauthorized firm. Notably, the United Kingdom’s financial services regulator cautioned investors to avoid doing business with this firm. It warned that those who lose their funds may not be able to recover them through any financial compensation scheme.
ApexTrader vs Apex Trader Funding(apextraderfunding.com)
SCAM ALERT: Apex Trader, the dubious entity, has been trying to capitalize on the reputation of Apex Trader Funding(apextraderfunding.com) for a long time.
Here’s a brief review of the legitimate broker.
Apex Trader Funding Overview
Unlike ApexTrader, Apex Trader Funding is a legitimate prop firm rated highly on Trustpilot. The firm holds 4.5 stars based on over 15k reviews, with a few users praising it for fast payouts.
It should be understood that Apex Trader Funding and Apex Trader are not the same entity.
The former is a proprietary trading firm that provides qualified traders with capital to trade the futures markets without risking their own money. Founded in 2021 by seasoned trader Darrell Martin in Texas, it has since grown into a large global trading community.
According to sources, traders can earn up to 100% of their first $25,000 in profits, followed by a 90% profit split on earnings beyond that. Apex Trader Funding also provides flexible trading conditions, such as:
- No daily drawdown limits
- Semi-automated trading is allowed under T&Cs
- Trading even during news events is permitted, but only in one direction
- Ability to manage up to 20 accounts simultaneously
- No cap on account profits
Apex Trader Funding Rules
- Fully automated trading using bots and AI is not allowed
- Hedging is strictly prohibited
- No copy trading or automated third-party involvement is permitted
- Traders must follow a well-defined trading system with clear rules for entries, targets, stops, and trailing stops.
- A maximum of 20 active funded accounts per household across all platforms is permitted. However, evaluation accounts have no such limit.
Payout Rules
- $500 is the minimum payout.
- Traders must wait at least 8 trading days between payout requests.
- Max payout per account applies to the first 5 withdrawals. It ranges between $1000 and $3500, depending on the account type. From the 6th payout onward, there is no maximum limit, as long as the trader’s balance meets the minimum requirement.
- Traders can withdraw 100% of profits starting from the sixth payout.
The 30% Rule During A Trading Period
It stipulates that no single trading day should account for more than 30% of a trader’s total net profit when requesting a payout. Otherwise, the payout may be denied. For example, if the highest profit day was $1,000, you’d need at least $3,333.33 in total net profit to qualify for a payout.
Tradovate Integration
Apex Trader Funding features integration with Tradovate, a futures trading platform with advanced charting, order execution, and risk management tools. This makes trading more convenient and flexible as traders can conveniently access markets from any device. Tradovate also allows them to customize their trading setups and execute trades with greater speed and efficiency, improving their winning chances.
WealthCharts (web-based) Integration
WealthCharts integration is another incredible feature offered by Apex Trader Funding. It offers advanced charting, paper trading, backtesting, and strategy-building tools, among other functions. This enables traders to replicate trades across multiple accounts in real-time using numerous options.
Final Thoughts
ApexTrader was a dubious entity mimicking Apex Trader Funding, a well-established proprietary trading firm. The fraudulent firm operated under two different domains, which have since been pulled down: apex-trader.net and apextrader.com.
Notably, atf.com is a questionable domain that appears to be linked to ApexTrader. This domain is currently listed for sale, and it seems to be connected to the dubious entity due to several reasons. For example, the landing page mentions an ongoing lawsuit against the prior potential owner for failing to fulfill financial commitments. The acronym “ATF” might stand for “Apex Trader Funding” or so, mimicking Apex Trader Funding.
Apex Trader Funding, on the other hand, does not orchestrate fraudulent practices, at least not that I have heard of so far.
According to many Reddit users, the firm pays out, except for the fact that it’s very strict with rules. Many traders have had their payout requests declined due to not adhering to those rules fully. One of the rules they are very strict with revolves around something called dollar-cost averaging. Apex Trader Funding strictly prohibits adding to losing positions beyond a certain threshold because it magnifies risk and can quickly hit the daily or max drawdown limits. If you break this rule, you’ll not receive a payout.