A professional website, a trading dashboard, or a familiar company name is not enough to establish legitimacy. These checks help you gather information before making a decision.
Identify the exact company
Write down the domain, legal name, claimed location, and contact details. Watch for small spelling changes and companies impersonating an established business.
Use the relevant regulator’s own register
Find the financial regulator for your country and check the permissions for the activity being offered. Compare contact details on the register with those you were given. Contact the firm using independently verified details.
Search for dated warnings
Look for the exact name and domain in official warning lists and reviewed company records. Search SARFUND’s registry separately. An absent record is not proof of safety.
Consider the offer and the pressure
Guaranteed profits, pressure to act immediately, and requests to transfer money to unrelated recipients deserve scrutiny. Pause and get independent advice before paying.
Keep the checks independent
Do not rely on a register link sent by the person selling the investment. Navigate to the authority’s official website yourself.
Sources and further reading: FBI IC3 investment fraud information and FTC scam guidance.