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How to Check If a Company Is Real: Steps to Spot a Shell Company

Chashe Tea Club · 24 Oct 2026 · 阅读中文版

Short answer: to check whether a company really exists, take at least three steps. First, get the full legal name, registration number and place of registration, and check the official company registry in that country to confirm the company exists and is active. Second, compare the registered name with the business card, contract and receiving bank account. Third, confirm the business address and the contact person's role, and where possible visit the premises or ask for a live video walk-through. If any of these does not match, pause.

1. Why check the company first

In cross-border deals, many losses do not happen at the negotiating table; they happen at the step where someone pays before verifying. The typical shell company "talks big but can't be found": impressive brochures, grand plans, and a legal entity that does not survive a basic check. A little time spent verifying protects you and respects counterparts who are doing things properly.

2. Four common signs of a shell company

The full legal name or registration number is unclear or keeps changing;
The company name differs between the contract, business card and bank account;
No verifiable business address, only a vague "office tower" or a shared address;
Refusal to show the premises on video or to meet in any form.

One sign alone does not prove fraud, but two or more call for real caution.

3. Verification steps: from the name to the person

Step 1: Get exact company details

Ask for the full legal name (in the local language and/or English), the registration number and the place of registration. Legitimate companies rarely refuse.

Step 2: Check official sources

Most countries run a company registry, and many offer online search. Some official entry points (search options and fees are set by each registry; check its website):

Malaysia, Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM): www.ssm.com.my
Singapore, ACRA: www.acra.gov.sg
Vietnam, National Business Registration Portal: dangkykinhdoanh.gov.vn
Thailand, Department of Business Development (DBD): www.dbd.go.th
Indonesia, AHU (Ministry of Law): ahu.go.id; OSS licensing system: oss.go.id
China, National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System: www.gsxt.gov.cn
United Arab Emirates: companies are licensed by each emirate's economic department or by the relevant free zone authority, so check with the issuing authority; general guidance at u.ae
Nigeria, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC): www.cac.gov.ng
Kenya, Business Registration Service: brs.go.ke
South Africa, CIPC: www.cipc.co.za

Focus on: does the company exist, is it active, what is the registered address, when was it incorporated, and does its registered business scope match what you were told?

Step 3: Compare document by document

Compare the official name with the business card, quotation, contract, invoice and receiving account. A different name, or a payee who is an individual or an unrelated third party, is a signal to ask questions.

Step 4: Confirm the person and their authority

Find out the contact person's role and whether they can sign on behalf of the company. When it comes to signing, ask for a written authorisation.

Step 5: See the premises and ask around

Visit the office or factory if you can; otherwise ask for a live video tour. Ask chambers of commerce, industry partners or mutual contacts about the company's reputation.

4. A real company is not the end of the story

A registered company only proves the entity exists. It does not prove the company can deliver, and it does not rule out someone impersonating a real company. After finding the company, confirm that your contact actually represents it, for example by calling back through the phone number on the company's official website or registry record.

5. What to focus on in different situations

Purchasing and orders: check production or supply capacity; ask for samples and start with a small trial order;
Agency and franchise: check the brand owner and the chain of authorisation; can this party really grant agency or franchise rights?
Leasing premises: check that the landlord owns the property or has the right to sublet;
Investment and partnership: check the project company's shareholding, licences and title documents, and use a local lawyer for due diligence when needed.

Match the depth of checking to the amount and the risk. The bigger and longer the deal, the more time it deserves.

6. Company verification checklist

I have the full legal name, registration number and place of registration;
I have checked the official registry: the company exists and is active;
Names match across business card, contract, invoice and bank account;
I have confirmed the contact's role and signing authority;
I have seen the premises in person or on live video;
I have called back via the company's official public number to confirm the contact;
I have asked chambers or peers about the company's reputation;
Where anything did not match, I have paused payment and signing.

Closing

Verification is not distrust; it is responsibility towards both sides. At Chashe, members post their project first and contacts are shared only when both sides agree; after that, we still recommend the checks above. Have a need? Come to Chashe. Have resources? Come and connect. Join the Chashe group