Inner Circle Trader (ICT), run by Michael Huddleston, portrays itself as a premier trading education service providing access to a master trader. However, beneath this veneer lies mounting evidence of an elaborate scam built on deception, manipulation, and greed designed to extract money from aspiring traders.
Outrageous Claims Hide Sinister Realities
At the core of ICT‘s pitch are outrageous claims of achieving massive trading profits. He boastfully states that he turned $5,000 into $5.8 million in 3 months, averaging over $100k per day. Such synchronous returns are essentially statistically impossible over a sustained period.
When pressed to verify these results, ICT‘s story constantly changes or he refuses to provide proof. First he claimed it was his account, then switched to saying it was a wedding gift traded in his sister‘s account in order to avoid capital gain taxes. However, his sister appears to live a humble working class lifestyle completely disconnected from someone controlling millions in trading capital.
Manipulated Accounts and Falsified Statements
Most evidence suggests ICT is actively faking trading results to appear wildly profitable. Former students report seeing obviously simulated statements portrayed as real accounts. ICT adamantly refuses to allow independent audits of his accounts – a basic transparency measure expected among professional traders and fund managers.
Without third party verification, traders assume the worst. It‘s highly likely ICT uses manipulated demo accounts, obscure offshore brokers with lax oversight, falsified statements, and other deceptive tactics to maintain the profitable illusion that ensnares new students.
Statements show trades occurring with impossibly consistent sizing and timing. Chains of winning trades happen every single day while losing trades are non-existent. According to FXCM‘s 2022 Q2 Retail Sentiment report, 76% of day trading accounts lose money. ICT‘s claimed results wildly defy statistical probabilities – a clear sign of fabrication.
Aggressive Sales Tactics Reveal True Intentions
Former students describe ICT employing aggressive boiler room sales tactics to push mentorship subscriptions, collect monthly fees, and prevent refunds. Tactics include using fake scarcity, exaggerated claims, high-pressure sales calls, restrictive contracts, manipulating loyal followers, and threats to silence critics.
Such heavy-handedness aligns more with a scammer afraid of having his scheme revealed than an authentic trading educator. Legitimate firms earn business by delivering value and positive student outcomes. They embrace transparency while ICT does everything to hide behind a veil of deception.
Student Testimonials Describe Empty Promises
Digging deeper into experiences of past trainees tells an even bleaker story. Student after student describes the training as severely lacking. Strategies touted are ineffective or drift considerably from actual methods used in ICT‘s own supposed trading. There is little useful skill development.
Despite paying thousands in course fees based on promises of unlocking market-beating returns, students are left still struggling just like when they started. ICT demonstrates no verifiable track record of trading success himself besides manipulated account statements. This deceit forms the foundation of a classic trading scam.
Recurring Fees Are the True Business Model
So if the mentorship program delivers such questionable value, how does ICT generate his claimed millions in profits? The answer lies in aggressive retention of monthly subscription fees from trainees. This reliance on recurring billing rather than trading or teaching proves where the incentives truly lie.
ICT spends far more time on creative sales ploys to keep fees rolling in than providing quality education or transparency around actual trading results. Everything centers around stringing along more months of payments. As the saying goes "follow the money" and it becomes clear that eliciting ongoing fees is ICT‘s primary business.
Profile of a Master Manipulator Emerges
Stepping back, an undeniable profile emerges of a shrewd and calculated predator exploiting eager traders. ICT exhibits all the hallmarks of a scammer operating a fictitious trading educational scheme. This includes:
- Outrageous profit claims orders of magnitude above realistic probabilities
- Falsified account statements with technically impossible consistency
- Heavy use of pressure sales tactics and barriers to leaving
- Aggressively silencing criticism or questions through threats
- Luring unsuspecting students desperate for an edge with hopes of big money
- Maximizing recurring subscription payments through deception
Unfortunately traders exhibits tendencies making them vulnerable. They dream of incredible wealth and independence. ICT masterfully crafts irresistible illusions playing into those desires while erecting façades to guard his scam.
An Elaborate Fraud Fueled by Greed
In total, the evidence paints a clear picture. ICT operates behind buzzwords and false credibility. His true skills lie in manipulation as a borderline sociopathic swindler versus any actual trading or teaching expertise. This serves his primary objective – siphoning ongoing fees from victims lured by lies of fortune.
ICT will continue evolving his schemes adapting to criticism and attention. But underneath resides the same cold and calculating fraudster fueled purely by greed. Those considering his supposed training should awaken to reality before becoming the next victim of this predator‘s nest of lies.