Jana Seaman used to run SurgeTrader, a prop trading firm that shut down and vanished overnight with millions.
Traders who had paid SurgeTrader felt scammed.
Where is Jana Seaman now? What was the SurgeTrader scam? This post will help you understand her reality.
About the CEO of SurgeTrader
The Chief Executive Officer of SurgeTrader is Jana Seaman. Through the provision of business solutions and financial assistance, she intends to assist enterprises in accomplishing amazing levels of success.
Small and large businesses that are experiencing rapid expansion are the target audience for the variety of business units that are focused on increasing revenue. Her organisation offers a wide range of resources, such as leadership coaching, staff onboarding, operational management, capital, and many more. VALO Holdings is a company that assists organisations to generate considerable and sustainable growth. The company focuses specifically on the technology, financial services, and automotive industries.
Her family and the entire SurgeTrader team have a wealth of experience in the intricacies of profitable market trading, which enables them to possess vital skills in the process of establishing an emotionally satisfying living. The current objective of SurgeTrader, which is to facilitate the funding of traders by offering access to institutional money, namely their capital, was significantly impacted by this experience when it was first conceived.
SurgeTrader has been a very extraordinary organisation ever since it was founded, both in terms of its growth and the sense of community that it has established. Having the opportunity to observe traders earn remarkable profits and maintain a prosperous livelihood through trading has been a very motivating experience.
It is possible for experienced traders to achieve financial independence and follow a life that is driven by their genuine passions with the help of this organisation. The sense of fulfilment that comes from supporting other people in achieving their empowerment is indescribable.
The SurgeTrader Firm
SurgeTrader is a proprietary company that operates out of Florida, United States, and provides traders who are motivated with capital of up to one million dollars, with a profit split that ranges from seventy-five percent to ninety percent. Eightcap, a broker based in Melbourne, Australia, which is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), has incorporated its technology.
Complaints Against SurgeTrader Prop Firm
#1. An important lesson I’ve picked up is to celebrate profit screenshots with caution. Too much time has passed for me to trust the early indicators. Before making a commitment to any company in the market, investors should perform their due diligence responsibilities. The fact that I do not have to wait for a significant amount of time to receive my money from Fifth and Heaven Company is the moment when I realise that they might actually be different and quick.
#2. There’s no way I feel for this always considered myself smart now I just feel really dumb for being a victim and I just pray no one else makes the same mistake like I did luckily for me it wasn’t so bad get was possible though got recommended Urfa. Io by my local police really solved my issues big time.
#3. Scammers who take advantage of the good intentions of Christians to obtain their financial support. In addition to this, when I asked for a refund, as it was mentioned on the document that we signed, it indicated that you are entitled to a refund; but, they did not repay me, and you did not send me an email when you responded to my request.
#4. You should steer clear of using this company since they are always revising their policies, and they are just interested in ensuring that you continue to bring in money, which will ultimately lead to your dissatisfaction. It is not something that I would suggest to anyone. PAIVA comes highly recommended by me. Yes, they do pay.
#5. Terrible service. Don’t waste your time or money. Just buys junky short dated options, averages down when they go down and then gets out close to breakeven and claims in alerts higher percent gains than are legitimate. There is no way to chat with Nate Bear directly and he ignores non praising comments in the chat room.
#6. Before the beginning of this year, this company was a pleasure to work with. At some point during this year, something went wrong, and we were subjected to a series of lies. It appears that they also lied about their role in the pyramid scam, despite the fact that they denied it. There is an old proverb that goes, “If it walks like a duck, it is a duck!” Under no circumstances should you put your faith in a company that deletes your comments unless they are positive.
#7. In their advertising, they initially claim that they will fund you with real money. However, after the MFF scandal, they began to tell the truth about not using real money but rather a demo account. Subsequently, they stopped making payouts and switched from MetaTrader 4 to MetaTrader, which is a terrible platform. They never returned to pay me again, and they never responded to my email about getting a refund because they do not. They completely shut down their Discord server and now posted an announcement that they are shortly going to close it down.
Red Flags in SurgeTrader Prop Firm
SurgeTrader once positioned itself as a serious contender in the proprietary trading space, offering retail traders access to institutional-level capital with the promise of fast evaluations and generous profit splits. However, beneath the glossy surface of marketing and influencer partnerships, numerous red flags have emerged over time.
These concerns became even more pressing after the firm’s sudden closure in 2024. Below is an in-depth look at the major red flags associated with SurgeTrader, designed to inform traders of the risks they may have overlooked.
Abrupt Shutdown and Loss of Trader Funds
Perhaps the most alarming red flag came with SurgeTrader’s abrupt closure in 2024. Without adequate notice or explanation, the company ceased all operations, leaving traders locked out of their accounts. Many had funded challenge accounts, passed evaluations, or were managing funded accounts with earned profits. The sudden disappearance of both access and communication created a financial and emotional shock for those affected. This kind of unannounced shutdown speaks volumes about the firm’s internal management and lack of financial resilience.
Technical Glitches and Trade Manipulation Allegations
Even before the shutdown, traders regularly reported technical issues that impacted their performance. Complaints included erratic trade execution, platform freezing during high-volatility events, and unexplained stop-outs that breached risk parameters without cause. These issues raised suspicions of backend manipulation or a poorly integrated trading platform. A common theme among users was that technical problems consistently worked against their positions rather than in their favor, suggesting a systematic flaw—or worse, a deliberate setup to trigger account breaches.
High Challenge Fees and Difficult Profit Targets
SurgeTrader charged steep fees for its trading evaluations, with packages ranging from a few hundred dollars to several thousand depending on the account size. While pricing in this range is not uncommon among prop firms, the structure at SurgeTrader often placed traders under intense pressure. Daily drawdown limits were tight, and profit targets high, which created an environment where success was statistically limited. Many traders found themselves failing not due to poor strategy, but because the conditions were designed to favor the firm collecting fees rather than fostering trader success.
Lack of Regulatory Oversight
Unlike many reputable firms that are at least indirectly regulated through their brokerage partners or operational jurisdictions, SurgeTrader operated in a largely unregulated framework. It had affiliations with regulated brokers, but the firm itself was not overseen by any major financial authority. This left traders without legal recourse if issues arose, such as disputed account closures or unpaid profits. The absence of regulatory protection makes it easier for a firm to change policies arbitrarily or even disappear entirely without consequences, as was the case with SurgeTrader.
Poor Customer Support and Communication
Another ongoing issue was the quality of customer support. While the onboarding and payment phases were often smooth and responsive, traders frequently encountered silence when they needed support after account failures, payout issues, or technical difficulties. Delays in replies, generic responses, and complete ghosting were frequently reported. This created frustration and distrust among users who had invested time and money into the platform, only to feel abandoned when challenges or complications emerged.
Censorship of Negative Feedback
One of the more troubling signs of internal culture was the firm’s approach to negative reviews. SurgeTrader was known to aggressively monitor and suppress critical content online. Some review sites and individuals claimed that the company attempted to remove unfavorable posts or block discussions on community forums. This kind of reputation management, instead of genuine improvement, suggests a company more interested in optics than accountability. Any firm that silences criticism instead of addressing it raises a serious red flag regarding its integrity.
Suspicious Financial Connections
Adding to the concern was the revelation that a close family member of one of the firm’s founders had previously been implicated in a large-scale financial fraud case. While this may not directly tie to SurgeTrader’s operations, it raises questions about the company’s internal governance, vetting, and ethical foundations. When coupled with other operational concerns, this connection further undermines confidence in the organization’s legitimacy.
Questionable Business Model and Sustainability
SurgeTrader’s business model appeared heavily reliant on evaluation fees, with limited transparency about how many traders were funded and paid. This setup creates the perception that the company profited primarily from failed challenges rather than successful traders. Such a structure creates a misalignment between the firm’s financial interest and its promise to support trader success. A sustainable prop firm should benefit when its traders profit, not when they fail.
No Exit Plan or Trader Protections
When SurgeTrader shut down, there was no contingency plan in place for its users. Traders who had active funded accounts or who had recently paid for challenges were left in the dark, with no guidance on refunds or account recovery. The absence of such basic protections points to either a lack of foresight or a willful disregard for user interests. A serious, professional financial institution would have implemented clear procedures for closing out operations with fairness and transparency.
Conclusion
SurgeTrader’s rise and fall serve as a cautionary tale in the world of proprietary trading. While the firm marketed itself as innovative and trader-friendly, numerous red flags—ranging from technical issues and predatory pricing to regulatory voids and poor customer service—paint a very different picture. The ultimate shutdown without warning solidified the risks of working with firms that lack transparency, oversight, and a long-term commitment to their community.
For traders considering a prop firm, SurgeTrader’s example underscores the importance of due diligence. It’s essential to research a company’s regulatory status, payout history, trader feedback, and financial transparency before committing capital. Otherwise, you risk becoming just another victim in a space that, while full of opportunity, also harbors significant risk.
