Dirty Tricks & Red Flags
The scam patterns and risk signals AlgoCheck surfaces on MQL5 EAs and signals. Result-faking vs legitimate warnings explained.
AlgoCheck flags these patterns automatically while reviewing every EA and signal. These are the most common critical patterns - the full taxonomy with examples and how-to-spot heuristics loads when you open the page.
Withdrawal Profit Lock
Provider pulls large profits during a peak phase. The MQL5 chart still shows the strong growth, turning the track record into a sales showcase. The drawdown that follows hits the subscribers, not the provider.
Deposit-During-Drawdown Masking
Fresh cash is injected during an active drawdown, cushioning the percentage loss. The reported max drawdown is no longer a true measure of risk on a retail-sized account.
Martingale Position Doubling
After a losing trade the next position size is doubled. The strategy looks like it never loses for months, then a single deep drawdown wipes the entire account.
Grid Without Stop Loss
Multiple positions stacked at fixed price intervals against the trend, with no stop loss. Account survives until the trend extends - then total loss is mathematically certain.
News-Spike Scalping
EA opens trades within seconds of high-impact news, profiting from broker quote latency. Brokers detect this pattern and disable the strategy or refuse to pay out.