Overview

In the Philippines, “registered” can mean different things depending on the business structure:

DTI registration generally refers to registration of a Business Name (BN) for a sole proprietorship (a business owned by one person).
SEC registration generally refers to registration of a juridical entity such as a corporation, partnership, or one person corporation (OPC).

Verifying registration helps you confirm whether the seller, service provider, or counterparty exists in government records and whether the details they are using (name, address, signatories) align with those records. Registration, however, is not a guarantee of legitimacy, quality, solvency, or compliance—it is one layer of due diligence.

Why Verification Matters (and What It Does/Doesn’t Prove)

What verification can tell you

The business is recorded with the appropriate agency (DTI for sole prop BN; SEC for corporate/partnership entities).
The exact registered name and key registration details (e.g., registration number, office address, status) correspond to what the business is claiming.
Whether an SEC-registered entity appears active or has compliance issues (where status information is available).

What verification does not automatically tell you

That the business is licensed to engage in regulated activities (e.g., lending/financing, insurance, remittances, investments).
That the business is tax-compliant (BIR) or has local permits (LGU).
That an investment offer is lawful—securities offerings typically require separate registrations/approvals beyond SEC entity registration.

Step 1: Identify What Type of Entity You’re Dealing With

Before you verify, determine whether you should be looking under DTI or SEC:

A. Sole Proprietorship (DTI)

Common indicators:

The seller/owner is an individual operating under a business name.
Business documents show a DTI Business Name Certificate (or BN registration details).
Contracts/invoices may be in the name of a person “doing business under the name…”

B. Corporation / Partnership / OPC (SEC)

Common indicators:

Business claims it is “Inc.”, “Corporation”, “Corp.”, “OPC”, “LLC” (note: “LLC” is not the typical Philippine corporation suffix), or “Partnership”.
Documents mention:
- SEC Registration Number
- Articles of Incorporation/Partnership
- Bylaws
- General Information Sheet (GIS)

C. Other registries (often overlooked)

Some entities register elsewhere:

Cooperatives – Cooperative Development Authority (CDA)
Barangay micro businesses may still need a BN (DTI) and permits; structure varies If a business claims “registered” but can’t specify DTI/SEC/CDA, that’s a red flag.

Step 2: Ask for the Right Details (Minimum Verification Data)

For meaningful verification, request these details in writing:

If they claim DTI registration (sole prop)

Ask for:

Exact Business Name (spelling matters)
Owner’s name (sole proprietor)
DTI BN Registration/Reference Number (or certificate number)
Business address indicated in the BN certificate
A copy/photo of the DTI Business Name Certificate

If they claim SEC registration (corporation/partnership/OPC)

Ask for:

Exact registered name (including suffix like Inc., Corp., OPC)
SEC Registration Number
Principal office address
Name and position of the authorized signatory you are dealing with Optional but strong:
Latest GIS (shows directors/trustees/officers and company information)
Secretary’s Certificate or Board Resolution authorizing the signatory for the transaction

Practical tip: Scams often use a real company’s name but provide different bank accounts, different addresses, or “representatives” who are not authorized.

Step 3: Verify a DTI-Registered Business Name (Sole Proprietorship)

1) Understand what DTI registration is

DTI registration is primarily business name registration for sole proprietors. It typically indicates:

A person reserved/registered a business name for use within a territorial scope (e.g., barangay/city/region/national depending on registration scope rules at the time).

Key point: A DTI certificate does not create a separate legal entity. The owner is personally liable for obligations of the business.

2) Inspect the DTI Business Name Certificate carefully

When you’re shown a certificate, check:

Business Name matches exactly what the business is using online (including punctuation/spaces).
Owner’s name matches who you’re dealing with (or who is signing).
Registration number/certificate details look consistent and not altered.
Validity/renewal details (if indicated) and issuance information.
Business address matches what the seller lists publicly.

Red flags:

The business refuses to show the certificate, or sends a blurred/edited image.
The name on the certificate differs slightly (extra words, swapped letters).
The owner name on the certificate is unrelated to the “CEO/manager” you’re talking to and they can’t explain authority.

3) Confirm through DTI’s official verification channels

DTI maintains systems for BN registration; verification is typically done by:

Searching official DTI BN registration tools (where available), or
Coordinating with DTI offices/hotlines/email channels for confirmation, especially if you have the registration number and exact name.

Because online systems and access methods can change, the safest approach is:

Use the exact business name and registration number to request confirmation through DTI’s official channels or in-person at a DTI office, particularly for high-value transactions.

4) Know the limitations

A DTI-registered BN can exist even if the business has ceased operations.
A DTI BN is not the same as:
- BIR registration (authority to print receipts/invoices, TIN registration for business)
- Mayor’s/Business Permit from the city/municipality
- Industry licenses (if regulated)

Step 4: Verify an SEC-Registered Company (Corporation/Partnership/OPC)

1) Understand what SEC registration is

SEC registration establishes a business as a juridical entity (or registers a partnership), with publicly recordable documents such as:

Articles of Incorporation/Partnership
Bylaws (for many corporations)
GIS (periodic filing with updated company info)
Board resolutions and corporate secretary certifications (internal but often provided for transactions)

2) Verify through SEC’s company search/verification services

SEC typically provides ways to:

Search entities by company name
Validate existence using SEC registration number
Request copies or certified true copies of filed documents (often fee-based)

For higher-stakes verification, the strongest evidence is obtaining SEC-filed documents (or certified true copies), such as:

Articles (to confirm registered name, principal office, incorporators)
GIS (to confirm directors/officers and sometimes the company’s status and contact details)

3) Check the company’s status and compliance indicators (when available)

If status information is accessible through SEC resources, check for:

Active / Delinquent / Suspended / Revoked (terms vary)
Recent filings (e.g., GIS, annual reports, etc.) A company can be registered but delinquent for failure to file required reports.

4) Verify signatory authority (very important)

Even if the company exists, your real risk is whether the person dealing with you is authorized.

Ask for:

Secretary’s Certificate stating that the board authorized the signatory to enter into the contract
A Board Resolution or written authority
IDs and corporate email/domain verification (where appropriate)

Red flags:

They refuse to provide proof of authority for large transactions.
Their bank account payee name doesn’t match the SEC-registered entity.
They use personal accounts “temporarily” or ask payment to unrelated third parties.

5) Securities, investments, and “secondary licenses”

A frequent scam pattern is “We are SEC registered” used to imply “We are allowed to solicit investments.”

Important distinctions:

Entity registration (company exists) is different from being authorized to:
- Offer securities/investments to the public
- Operate as a broker/dealer, investment adviser, lending/financing company, etc. Many of these require additional SEC registrations/approvals or registrations of the securities themselves, and sometimes regulation by other agencies.

If the business is selling “investment packages,” “guaranteed returns,” “trading pools,” or “profit-sharing” to the public, you should treat “SEC registered” as insufficient by itself.

Step 5: Cross-Check With Other Required Registrations

DTI/SEC registration is only part of a legitimate operating footprint.

A. BIR (tax registration)

A legitimate operating business should generally be able to provide:

Business TIN registration details (as applicable)
Official receipts/invoices or information about invoicing Refusal to issue receipts/invoices for ordinary sales can be a risk sign.

B. LGU permits

Most operating businesses need:

Barangay clearance (often)
Mayor’s/Business Permit (city/municipality)
Occupancy/fire safety requirements (depending on business and location)

C. Industry-specific licenses (examples)

Depending on what they do, they may need additional government permits. For example:

Food, cosmetics, medicines: FDA-related authorizations
Telecommunications devices/services: NTC-related requirements
Insurance products: Insurance Commission oversight
Certain financial services: BSP oversight and/or SEC licensing (depending on activity)

If the business is in a regulated sector, ask specifically: “What license do you have for this activity, and what is the license number?”

Step 6: Practical Due Diligence for Online Businesses (Beyond DTI/SEC)

Online sellers and service providers can look “formal” while being untraceable. Do these checks:

1) Match identity across channels

Website footer, Facebook page, marketplace page: do they show the same legal name?
Do they list a verifiable physical address?
Are the contact numbers and emails consistent?

2) Payment safety checks

Bank/GCash/Maya account name should match the legal business name (SEC) or the owner’s name (DTI), unless there’s a clear, documented reason.
Avoid paying large sums to:
- personal accounts unrelated to the business identity
- “agent” accounts without written authority

3) Documentary trail

For any meaningful transaction, insist on:

Written quotation/proposal under the legal name
Contract or terms and conditions
Invoice/receipt trail
Delivery terms and return/refund policy

4) Scam indicators (common patterns)

Pressure tactics (“today only,” “limited slot,” “manager will cancel”)
Guaranteed returns or “risk-free” profits
Vague company details, unwillingness to provide registration documents
Social proof that looks manufactured (recent reviews, repeated wording, stock photos)

Step 7: How to Handle Suspected Misrepresentation or Fraud

If you suspect the business is not properly registered, is impersonating a real entity, or is scamming:

A. Preserve evidence

Screenshots of pages, chats, payment instructions
Copies of receipts, transaction references
Names, numbers, email addresses, URLs

B. Where to report (general guide)

DTI: consumer complaints for goods/services issues (especially retail consumer transactions)
SEC: issues involving corporations/partnerships, investment solicitation, possible unregistered securities activities, and misleading claims about SEC registration
Law enforcement/cybercrime units: if you’ve been defrauded online
Local government: if a physical establishment is operating without permits (as applicable)

Your report is stronger when you include:

The claimed registration numbers
Proof of solicitation or sale
Proof of payment and communications

Common Misunderstandings to Avoid

“DTI registered” ≠ “company” DTI BN registration is for a sole proprietor’s business name, not a separate corporation.
“SEC registered” ≠ “licensed to take investments” Company existence is different from regulatory approval for securities/investments.
A real registration number can still be used in a scam Scammers may copy a legitimate company’s details and impersonate it. Always verify bank account name, signatory authority, and contact channels.
Spelling variations matter Verification depends on exact names. Slight changes can hide impersonation.

Best-Practice Checklist (Quick Reference)

For small purchases

Ask for full legal name and registration number
Check consistency of name/address/contact info across platforms
Use safer payment methods with buyer protections (where available)

For high-value transactions or services

Obtain DTI/SEC documents (or at least clear copies)
Confirm through official verification channels
Verify signatory authority (Secretary’s Certificate / Board Resolution)
Require a written contract and official invoicing
Validate payment account name matches legal identity

For “investment” offers

Treat “DTI/SEC registered” as only step one
Require proof of proper regulatory authority for the activity
Be cautious of guaranteed returns and recruitment-based earnings

Final Note

Verification with DTI or SEC is a powerful first filter, but the safest approach is layered: confirm the entity exists, confirm the people you are dealing with are authorized, confirm the business has the right permits/licenses for what it is doing, and keep a strong paper trail—especially online.

This article is for general information and education in the Philippine context and is not legal advice. For specific situations—especially large transactions, disputes, or suspected fraud—consult a qualified Philippine lawyer or the appropriate government agency.