How to check if a company is regulated
How to start verifying a company’s licence
If you want to check whether a company is regulated, begin by finding its licence number. Most firms list their licensing details in the footer of their website or on a page with headings like legal, regulation or about us. Note three pieces of information as you go: the regulator’s name, the firm’s reference or registration number, and the legal entity name. It’s not unusual for the licensed company to have a name different from the one you see on an app or website, because large groups often use several legal entities for different markets, countries or products.
Using the official public register
Every national regulator operates a publicly available register that’s free to access. You’ll find the FCA Register for the UK, Germany’s BaFin company search, and the AFM register for the Netherlands. For cross-border finance, the European Banking Authority publishes lists of authorized payment and e-money institutions, while ESMA covers investment and crypto companies through its own registers.
Try searching with the reference number first, switching to the company name if you get no match. Look closely at the firm’s status (authorised, registered, withdrawn or lapsed), the kinds of business it’s allowed to do, and any restrictions. Some firms have approval for sending payments, but not for holding funds or offering crypto, so check the licence covers whatever service you want to use.
How to recognize mismatches or scams
Small differences matter. If the name, website link, licence number or description of permitted services on the provider’s website doesn’t match the regulator’s record exactly, be cautious. Things like a website address with an odd word or different ending, or phone numbers that don’t appear in the register, should make you pause before going further.
Some scams copy a genuine firm’s registration details and try to lure customers by email or messages that look official. This is called a clone firm scam. Always use the contact information published in the register, not the ones the company gives you directly. You should also check the regulator’s warning lists for names and websites that have never been authorised.
Frequently asked questions
What if a company is not on any regulator register?
You should assume it's not authorised unless you can prove otherwise. Sending money to unregistered providers is risky, as customers usually have no formal protection and no official place to complain. Some firms are genuinely exempt for a specific type of activity, so double-check the entry on the register. If you’ve already sent money, report the company to both the regulator and the police as soon as you can.
Is a licence number enough to prove a company is safe?
No, a licence number by itself doesn't guarantee a company is safe. It means that the firm was approved by a regulator, but not that it stays honest or financially reliable. Make sure the licence is still valid, that it covers the product or service you want and that the company name on the licence matches the account you're paying. You should also review its complaints process and how it separates client money from company funds.