Overview

A business “registered under your name” without your consent is usually one of these situations:

A DTI-registered business name (commonly linked to a sole proprietorship).
An SEC-registered entity (corporation, One Person Corporation, partnership) listing you as owner/incacted incorporator/stockholder/director/officer without valid consent.
A BIR taxpayer registration (your name or TIN used to register a business or to register you as a responsible person).
Local government permits (Mayor’s/Business Permit) obtained using your identity.
Employer/agency registrations (SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG) created under your name as an employer.
Bank/e-wallet accounts and contracts opened using your identity, then tied to the “business.”

Your goal is to (a) stop the business activity, (b) cut off the government/permit trail, and (c) protect yourself from liability—civil, criminal, and tax—by creating a clear record that you did not authorize any of it.

Why acting quickly matters

Even if you never consented, your name being used can trigger:

Tax exposure (registration, filing obligations, “open cases,” penalties, audit notices).
Contractual exposure (suppliers, landlords, lenders, customers claiming you’re the owner/signatory).
Regulatory exposure (permits, labor registrations, consumer complaints).
Credit and fraud risk (loans, “buy now pay later,” trade credit lines).
Reputational harm (online listings, complaints, blacklists).

A fast paper trail—Affidavit of Denial + agency notifications + police/NBI report—is the backbone of protection.

First: confirm exactly what exists (and in what form)

Before “stopping” it, pin down what you’re dealing with. Many victims only discover part of the chain (e.g., a Mayor’s Permit exists but the DTI/SEC base is different).

Identify the registration type

DTI Business Name (often shows a BN certificate and a business name).
SEC entity (articles/bylaws, GIS, incorporation documents).
BIR registration (Certificate of Registration / Form 2303, ATP, receipts, eSales, etc.).
LGU permit (Business Permit, Barangay Clearance, zoning, occupancy).
SSS/PhilHealth/Pag-IBIG employer registrations.
Bank/e-wallet merchant accounts.

Collect hard proof (do this before confronting anyone)

Screenshots/printouts of listings and registration details.
Any documents shown to you (certificates, permits, invoices, receipts).
Messages/emails from the people operating the business.
Your specimen signatures (old IDs, bank signature cards, prior notarized docs).

Do not rely on verbal confirmation; agencies respond best to document-based complaints.

Immediate protective actions (do these early)

1) Prepare a notarized Affidavit of Denial / Non-Participation

This is your main defensive document. It typically states:

You did not apply for, authorize, sign, or consent to any registration.
Any signatures or IDs used were forged/unauthorized.
You have no participation in operations, financing, or management.
You request cancellation/annotation and investigation.
You reserve the right to pursue criminal/civil actions.

Attach:

Government IDs (with signatures).
Signature specimens for comparison.
Any proof of where you were when supposed signatures occurred (if available).
Copies/screenshots of the questionable registrations.

2) File a police blotter and/or complaint with NBI

A blotter entry helps establish a timeline. NBI is commonly used for identity fraud and document falsification cases, especially when syndicates are involved. If there’s online falsification, it can also support cybercrime angles.

3) Send “non-recognition” notices to anyone demanding money

If a landlord, supplier, lender, or customer contacts you, respond in writing:

You deny ownership/authority.
Provide your affidavit and report reference number.
Demand they stop using your name and preserve evidence (contracts, IDs used, CCTV, messages).

This prevents “implied acceptance” narratives and helps if you need injunctions later.

Stopping the business at the source: agency-by-agency actions

A) If it’s a DTI business name (BN) / sole proprietorship issue

What it means: DTI business name registration is often the first layer for a sole proprietor. Fraudsters sometimes register a BN using someone else’s identity.

What to do:

Go to the relevant DTI office (typically where it was registered) or use the official DTI channels available for BN complaints.
Submit:
- Notarized Affidavit of Denial
- Copies of your IDs
- Evidence of the unauthorized BN registration
- Police/NBI report details
Request:
- Cancellation of the BN registration due to fraud/identity misuse, or
- Annotation/hold pending investigation (if cancellation requires process).

Important notes:

DTI BN registration is not, by itself, a full “license to operate.” Fraudsters often pair it with BIR and LGU permits. Canceling the BN helps break the chain but may not automatically terminate other registrations.
If the DTI record points to a specific address, ask that address to be noted; it is a lead for investigation and for LGU action.

B) If it’s an SEC-registered corporation/OPC/partnership

This is more serious when you’re listed as:

incorporator/subscriber
stockholder/member
director/trustee
officer (treasurer, secretary, president)
nominee in an OPC structure

Key reality: In legitimate formations, SEC filings usually require signed documents and often notarization. If your signature was forged, the issue often becomes falsification and use of falsified documents, plus administrative remedies at the SEC.

What to do:

Obtain copies (or at least identifying details) of:
- Articles of Incorporation / Partnership
- General Information Sheet (GIS)
- Secretary’s Certificates / Treasurers’ affidavits (if applicable)
File with the SEC:
- Notarized Affidavit of Denial
- Signature specimen documents
- Police/NBI report references
- Request for investigation and appropriate action:
  - correction/annotation of records,
  - recognition that you are not a valid officer/director/stockholder,
  - potential revocation proceedings if registration is fundamentally fraudulent.
If you’re being treated as an officer (e.g., treasurer), emphasize:
- you never accepted appointment,
- you never consented,
- and any acceptance/board minutes are falsified.

Practical tip: Ask SEC to mark your name as disputed in their records where possible. Even if full revocation takes time, an internal flag can help reduce third-party reliance.

C) If it’s a BIR registration (your name or TIN used)

This is the most urgent for long-term headaches, because unresolved BIR registrations can create “open cases” and penalty exposure.

What to do (at the RDO where registered):

Submit:
- Notarized Affidavit of Denial
- Police blotter/NBI complaint details
- Proof you did not conduct business
- Evidence of the fraudulent registration (e.g., Form 2303 copy if you have it)
Request actions such as:
- Stop/closure/cancellation of the taxpayer/business registration created through fraud, or
- Update/correction of records to remove you as responsible person (depending on the case structure),
- Tagging as identity theft/fraud case and guidance on clearing open cases.
If you received BIR notices:
- Respond formally and attach your denial affidavit and report references.
- Ask for a written list of alleged filings/open cases so you can specifically contest them.

If receipts/invoices were issued in your name: ask BIR what was authorized (ATP/receipt authority). This is key evidence for criminal investigation.

D) If the LGU (Mayor’s/Business Permit) was issued under your name

LGUs generally have a Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) and require documents that fraudsters often fabricate.

What to do:

File a written request to BPLO for:
- Cancellation of the permit issued using your identity, or
- Revocation/suspension pending investigation.
Attach:
- Affidavit of Denial
- Police/NBI report references
- Copy/screenshot of the permit (if any)
Ask BPLO to provide:
- the application packet (IDs, barangay clearance, lease contract, community tax certificate, etc.)
- the address and signatories used

LGU packets often contain the richest “paper trail” for finding who physically applied.

E) If employer registrations exist (SSS/PhilHealth/Pag-IBIG)

Fraudsters sometimes register an employer to support permit requirements or to create a “legitimate-looking” operation.

What to do:

Submit your affidavit and report references to the relevant branch/office and request:
- employer record correction/cancellation due to identity misuse,
- guidance on disowning employee obligations and contributions tied to that record.

When you may need court action: injunctions and declaratory relief

Administrative cancellation can take time. If the business is actively operating, using your name publicly, or creating ongoing liabilities, court remedies can be necessary:

Injunction / Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) in the proper Regional Trial Court (RTC) to stop use of your name and identity in operating, contracting, borrowing, or representing ownership.
Damages under the Civil Code (commonly framed through abuse of rights, quasi-delict, and related provisions) for harm to reputation, emotional distress, and financial losses.
Judicial recognition (depending on facts) that you are not an owner/officer/signatory and that documents were forged.

Court is especially useful when third parties (landlords, lenders, suppliers, platforms) keep insisting you are responsible despite your denials.

Criminal angles commonly implicated in the Philippines (high-level)

Depending on what was forged and how it was used, complaints may involve:

Falsification of documents and use of falsified documents (e.g., forged notarized documents, fake IDs, fabricated signatures).
Estafa if there was fraud causing damage to others or if your identity was used to obtain money, goods, or credit.
Perjury if false sworn statements/affidavits were submitted.
Cybercrime-related offenses if the acts were committed through computer systems (e.g., online submission, electronic fraud).
Data Privacy Act considerations if personal information was unlawfully collected, processed, or disclosed (context-specific).

The precise charges depend on evidence (what document, who signed, where notarized, what benefit obtained).

Liability: “Am I automatically on the hook?”

If it’s a true sole proprietorship under your name

A sole proprietorship is personally tied to the proprietor. That’s why it’s critical to contest the registration immediately and notify BIR/LGU, because third parties may assume you’re personally liable.

If it’s an SEC entity listing you as officer/director/stockholder

Liability typically depends on valid appointment, consent, participation, and proof of acts. If your inclusion is forged, your defense is anchored on:

lack of consent,
forged documents,
prompt repudiation,
agency notifications.

Delay and silence can create practical problems even if the law is on your side—because third parties may continue relying on records until corrected.

Practical containment: stop the spread to banks, platforms, and counterparties

Even while agency cases are pending:

Send cease-and-desist + denial notices to:
- landlords
- suppliers
- lenders
- delivery platforms
- online marketplaces
- social media page admins (if identifiable)
Ask for takedowns/corrections of online profiles that present you as owner.
Preserve evidence: screenshots, URLs, transaction IDs, chats, delivery receipts.
Check if your IDs were compromised:
- If a specific ID was used (e.g., driver’s license, passport copy), consider reporting that compromise to the issuing authority where applicable and tightening authentication at banks/e-wallets.

A workable “battle plan” (sequence that usually succeeds)

Affidavit of Denial / Non-Participation (notarized) + compile attachments.
Police blotter and/or NBI complaint (get reference numbers).
DTI/SEC: file for cancellation/annotation/investigation (depending on registration type).
BIR (RDO): file identity misuse report; request closure/correction and list of open cases.
LGU (BPLO): request permit cancellation/revocation; obtain application packet used.
Notify counterparties (banks, landlord, suppliers) with affidavit + report refs.
Escalate to court (injunction) if operations continue and damage is ongoing.

Draft templates (adapt as needed)

1) Affidavit of Denial / Non-Participation (outline)

Title: AFFIDAVIT OF DENIAL / NON-PARTICIPATION
Personal circumstances: name, age, citizenship, address, ID details.
Statement of facts:
- discovery of the business registration
- denial of application/authorization
- denial of signatures and submissions
- lack of participation in operations/finances
Harm/risk:
- potential liabilities, reputational harm
Requests:
- cancellation/annotation
- investigation
Attachments list
Oath + notary jurat

2) Letter to BIR/LGU/DTI/SEC (core language)

Identify the registration you dispute (name, reg no., date, address if known).
State you never applied/consented; signatures are forged/unauthorized.
Attach affidavit + IDs + police/NBI report references.
Request specific action: cancellation, revocation, correction, annotation, investigation.
Provide contact information for official notices.

Common pitfalls that make these cases harder

Not addressing BIR early (tax “open cases” can multiply).
Relying on verbal assurances instead of written filings.
Failing to get the application packet (it contains the fraudster’s trail).
Confronting operators first (they may destroy evidence or escalate harassment).
Notarization blind spots: forged notarized documents may implicate notarial records—your affidavit and signature specimens help trigger verification of notarization logs.

What “success” looks like

A strong outcome usually includes:

DTI BN canceled (if applicable) or SEC records corrected/flagged.
LGU permit revoked/canceled.
BIR registration closed/corrected and any “open cases” formally cleared/contested with your denial on record.
Police/NBI case initiated against the responsible parties.
Third parties cease demanding performance/payment from you after receiving formal repudiation documents.

Bottom line

Stopping an unauthorized business registered under your name in the Philippines is a documentation-and-notice problem first, and a cancellation/investigation problem second. The fastest route is:

Notarized Affidavit of Denial
Police/NBI report
DTI/SEC + BIR + LGU filings
Written repudiation to third parties
Injunction if the operation continues and harm is ongoing