Guaranteed returns or approval
Investments carry risk, and legitimate lenders still assess applications. Guaranteed profit, guaranteed approval, and unusually easy money require careful independent checking.
Check authority, not just registration
How to verify a bank, lender, or investment
A certificate, app-store listing, office address, or company registration does not automatically mean an entity may accept deposits, offer loans, operate an e-wallet, or solicit investments.
Registration and permission are different
In the Philippines, the responsible regulator depends on the product and activity. BSP supervises banks and various financial institutions and payment services within its mandate. SEC handles company registration and regulates lending, financing, and securities activities within its authority. A registered corporation may still lack the secondary licence or authority required for a financial activity.
Verify before sharing information or money
Do the checks yourself. Documents and screenshots supplied by the seller are leads to verify—not proof.
- 01
Identify the exact product and legal entity
Ask for the full registered company name, product, regulator, licence or authority, physical address, and official website. A brand or app name may differ from the legal entity behind it.
- 02
Search the regulator’s current records
Use BSP’s directories or Verifier for supervised institutions. For lending, financing, and investments, check SEC records, recorded platform lists, and current advisories.
- 03
Confirm authority for the activity
Do not stop at primary company registration. Verify that the entity is authorised for the specific service—such as lending, financing, selling securities, or soliciting investments.
- 04
Match every detail
Compare domain, email, phone, account name, app publisher, licence details, and payment recipient. Scammers may impersonate a real registered company while using different contact and account details.
Red flags that documents cannot explain away
A real-looking certificate does not cancel suspicious behaviour. Step away when the offer depends on pressure or secrecy.
Payment to a personal or unrelated account
The recipient should match the verified entity and transaction. Do not accept explanations that a personal account, crypto wallet, or gift card is needed for speed or tax.
Upfront release or withdrawal fee
Advance-fee loan scams charge before a loan exists. Fake investment platforms invent taxes and fees when a victim tries to withdraw displayed profits.
Pressure not to consult anyone
A legitimate provider should allow time to review terms and ask a bank, lawyer, accountant, regulator, or trusted person. Secrecy protects the scammer.
Where to verify
Use the regulator that covers the actual product or activity.
BSPOpen official channel ↗SECOpen official channel ↗SECOpen official channel ↗
Banks, e-money issuers, and BSP-supervised institutions
Use BSP Verifier and official directories; absence alone may require checking another regulator or updated records.
Lending and financing companies
Check recorded online lending platforms and current advisories, including impersonation and revoked authority notices.
Investments and securities activity
Verify both the entity and its authority to sell securities or solicit investments; review investor advisories before paying.
A real company can still be impersonated
Verification is not complete until the company, authority, website, representative, and payment destination all match. Contact the verified organisation through details from the regulator or its known official website—not through the person making the offer.