Our Fact-Checking Process

Why Fact-Checking Matters

Forex broker information changes rapidly. Bonus amounts shift, regulatory licenses lapse, spreads tighten or widen, and platforms get updated. Outdated information in a YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) context can lead readers to make decisions based on incorrect facts—with real financial consequences.

This is why every claim on Northmark goes through a structured fact-checking process.

Pre-Publication Fact-Checking

Regulatory Claims

Before publishing any claim about a broker's regulatory status:

1. Identify the specific entity name the broker operates under (e.g., "XM Group Cyprus" not just "XM")
2. Look up the entity in the regulator's public database:
   • CySEC: https://www.cysec.gov.cy/en-GB/entities/
   • ASIC: https://connectonline.asic.gov.au/
   • FCA: https://register.fca.org.uk/
   • FSC Belize: https://www.fsc.gov.bz/
3. Verify the license is active (not revoked, suspended, or with formal warnings)
4. Note the license number and date for citation
5. Check the past 24 months for any sanctions, warnings, or material changes

Pricing Claims (Spreads, Commissions, Fees)

For any specific number cited:

1. Source from the broker's official current pricing page, with timestamp
2. Note the specific account type (Standard, ECN, Raw, etc.) the spread applies to
3. Specify the trading session (London/NY overlap typically has tightest spreads)
4. Cite the data with URL and date in our internal verification log

Bonus and Promotion Claims

Bonus terms vary by region and change frequently:

1. Verify on the regional broker site (e.g., XM Trading Japan vs. XM Group Cyprus may differ)
2. Read full terms and conditions for trading volume requirements, withdrawal restrictions
3. Note expiration dates
4. Use cautious language like "currently offered" or "where available" rather than absolute claims

Platform and Feature Claims

For technology features:

1. Verify in current broker documentation or platform itself
2. Test on a demo account when feasible
3. Update if broker modifies platform offerings

Live Testing

For brokers we recommend (4.0+ rating):

1. Real account opening by our team
2. KYC completion (we time how long it takes)
3. Small live deposit ($50-$200 typically)
4. Multiple trades across different instruments and times
5. Withdrawal test within the first month
6. Documentation of every step with timestamps and (anonymized) screenshots

This process is repeated at least annually for major brokers and on every review update for smaller or less-established brokers.

AI-Assisted Research

We use Anthropic Claude with web search capabilities to:

1. Aggregate information from multiple primary sources
2. Verify claims in real-time via web search before final publication
3. Cross-reference broker statements against independent sources

Critically:

• AI never makes final factual determinations on regulatory status
• AI-generated content is reviewed by humans before publication
• Verified claims include source URLs in our internal logs

Each fact-checked article includes a "verifiedClaims" record listing the specific facts checked and their sources, viewable in the article footer for transparency.

Re-Verification Schedule

Content type	Re-verification frequency
Bonus offers	Weekly (auto-monitored)
Spreads and commissions	Monthly
Regulatory status	Quarterly
Major broker reviews	Quarterly full re-test
Educational content	Annually or when material changes occur

The "Last verified" date displayed on each review and article reflects the most recent comprehensive check.

Automated Monitoring

We have automated systems that:

• Daily: Check for broken links to regulator pages
• Weekly: Monitor partner broker bonus pages for changes
• Monthly: Verify license status in regulator databases
• Continuous: Track our own articles for outdated date references (auto-updates "2026" → "2027" etc.)

When automated systems detect a change, an editorial review is triggered.

Limitations of Our Process

We acknowledge:

• Time lag: Even with weekly bonus checks, a broker can change terms between checks. Always verify directly with the broker before depositing.
• Regional variation: Bonus and feature availability differs by jurisdiction. We try to note this but cannot cover every region in detail.
• Internal data limits: We do not have access to brokers' internal execution data; reported figures are based on broker disclosures and our independent testing.
• Translation accuracy: While translations go through native-speaker review, terminology nuances may vary.

Reporting Errors

If you find a factual error:

1. Email us through Contact with:
   • The URL of the article
   • The specific claim you believe is incorrect
   • Source supporting your concern (if available)
2. We investigate within 72 hours for credible reports
3. Corrections published within 7 days if verified

For urgent regulatory or fraud-related concerns, please mark your email [URGENT].

Source Hierarchy

When sources conflict, we prioritize:

1. Regulatory authorities' official statements (highest priority)
2. Broker's official current website and documentation
3. Live testing by our team
4. Reputable financial news (Reuters, Bloomberg, FT)
5. Industry data providers (e.g., Finance Magnates, Forex Magnates)

We give lowest weight to:

• Affiliate competitor sites
• Forum/social media reports
• Unverified user complaints

This does not mean user complaints are dismissed—they prompt investigation but require corroboration.

Transparency Commitment

We publicly disclose:

• Our fact-checking methodology (this page)
• Per-article verified claims in article footers
• Last-verified dates on every review
• Corrections notices for material errors

We believe this transparency is essential for YMYL content where reader trust is paramount.

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If you have questions about a specific fact in our content, please contact us. We welcome scrutiny and rigorous correction.