How can I check if a company is legitimate for free?

Search the company name in the official register for its country (Companies House in the UK, ASIC in Australia, SEC EDGAR in the US, Zefix in Switzerland), check regulator warning lists, and run its website through Scam AI.

Does being registered mean a company is safe?

No. Registration only proves the company exists. Scammers register shell companies or clone the name and number of real firms. Check that the website, address and contact details match the register entry.

How do I check an investment or trading company?

Investment firms must be authorised by a financial regulator. Check the regulator's authorised register and its warning list. Scam AI checks warning lists including the FCA, SEC, BaFin, AMF, MAS, FINMA, ASIC, SFC and Central Bank of Ireland.

What is a clone firm?

A clone firm copies the name, registration number and address of a genuine authorised company but uses different contact details. Always contact a firm using details from the official register, not from the website or email you received.

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How to Check If a Company Is Legit

Before you pay, invest or hand over personal details, confirm the business is real, registered, and not on a regulator's warning list.

Key Takeaways

Every real company appears in an official register — find it there first.
Investment firms also need authorisation from a financial regulator.
Registration alone is not proof: clone firms copy real company details.
Contact a firm only through details listed in the official register.

1. Find it in the official company register

Search the exact trading name and company number. Check the registered address, incorporation date and directors. A company formed last month claiming "15 years of experience" is a red flag.

2. Check regulator warning lists

Financial regulators publish lists of unauthorised and suspected scam firms. Scam AI checks the FCA, SEC, BaFin, AMF, MAS, FINMA, ASIC, SFC and Central Bank of Ireland warning lists as part of each search.

3. Compare the website with the register

Check when the website's domain was registered and whether its address, phone and email match the register entry. Mismatched details are the classic sign of a clone firm.

4. Read independent reviews and complaints

Look at review sites and forums, and search the company name plus "scam". Weight older, detailed reviews above a sudden burst of five-star ratings.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How can I check if a company is legitimate for free?: Search the company name in the official register for its country (Companies House in the UK, ASIC in Australia, SEC EDGAR in the US, Zefix in Switzerland), check regulator warning lists, and run its website through Scam AI.
Does being registered mean a company is safe?: No. Registration only proves the company exists. Scammers register shell companies or clone the name and number of real firms. Check that the website, address and contact details match the register entry.
How do I check an investment or trading company?: Investment firms must be authorised by a financial regulator. Check the regulator's authorised register and its warning list. Scam AI checks warning lists including the FCA, SEC, BaFin, AMF, MAS, FINMA, ASIC, SFC and Central Bank of Ireland.
What is a clone firm?: A clone firm copies the name, registration number and address of a genuine authorised company but uses different contact details. Always contact a firm using details from the official register, not from the website or email you received.

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