Who Authorised the Trade? The Universe Markets Warning
A losing trade and a trade you never authorised are different problems. Treating them as the same can leave the most useful evidence buried beneath a broker’s explanation of “market conditions.” Before accepting that explanation, reconstruct what you actually agreed to, which orders appeared, and where your payments went.
Why Universe Markets belongs in this discussion
White Square Trading Limited, trading as Universe Markets, appears among the platforms recently released in Assets Collector’s WordPress archive. The stronger reason to discuss it is the primary regulatory record.
On 27 July 2018, New Zealand’s Financial Markets Authority said it had received a resident’s report concerning unauthorised trades and withheld client funds. It also said White Square Trading was not a registered financial service provider in New Zealand. The notice identified Universe Markets and Universe Markets FX, including universemarkets.com, universe-markets.com and universemarketsfx.com.
The UK Financial Conduct Authority’s separate warning, dated 25 June 2018 on its current page, identifies White Square Trading Limited trading as Universe Markets as unauthorised and targeting UK consumers.
These are historical warnings, not newly issued alerts. The reported client experience is an allegation recorded by the FMA; it is not a finding that every customer suffered the same conduct. The warnings are sufficient reason to avoid sending money to the operation identified in those notices.
Three questions that make the evidence useful
First: who could place orders? Keep the agreement you received when opening the account, any later mandate, and messages describing “managed trading” or “account management.” A sales call promising help is not, by itself, a clear record of the permissions you gave.
Second: which exact orders do you dispute? Export the available trade history. Record order identifiers, instruments, sizes, opening and closing times, and the time zone. Mark which instructions you recognise and which you do not. Preserve the original export alongside screenshots; do not overwrite it with annotations.
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Third: what money actually left your control? Match each deposit to a bank reference, card statement or blockchain transaction ID. Keep the payment instructions that connected that payment to the platform. A trading statement and a payment receipt answer different questions; a useful case file needs both.
If you have already paid
Stop adding funds while the concern is investigated. Contact your bank, card provider or sending exchange promptly through its verified channel. Explain accurately whether you authorised the payment, which trading instructions you dispute, and what prevented withdrawal. Ask what reporting, recall or dispute routes may apply; eligibility and deadlines depend on the payment method and circumstances.
Report the suspected fraud to the relevant regulator and local law enforcement. Save complaint references and responses. Do not describe an authorised deposit as an unauthorised payment merely because the investment later proved suspicious. Precise facts give a complaint a firmer foundation than a larger, inaccurate allegation.
Turn the records into a case review
If you lost money through Universe Markets, White Square Trading, or another investment platform, request an evidence-based review from Assets Collector at https://assetscollector.com/. Fill in the contact form on our website: https://assetscollector.com/contact-us/#ac-plain.
Start with the platform name, dates, payment method, amount sent and a short timeline. Keep original transaction records ready, but never send a wallet seed phrase, private key, password or one-time security code. Assets Collector can assess the available evidence and explain potential investigation and recovery routes. Recovery is not guaranteed, and a regulator warning alone does not establish a right to reimbursement.
Only contact Assets Collector through assetscollector.com. Beware of scammers claiming to work with us, especially in Facebook comments and private messages. Check the website yourself before sharing information or agreeing to any service.
Primary sources
New Zealand FMA, 27 July 2018: https://www.fma.govt.nz/library/warnings-and-alerts/white-square-trading-limited/
UK FCA warning: https://www.fca.org.uk/news/warnings/white-square-trading-limited-trading-universe-markets
Educational information, not a determination of an individual claim. Research checked 21 October 2026.
