Quick answer
Before paying, signing a contract, or sharing personal information, verify who operates the business, whether it has authority to offer the specific product or service, and whether you are dealing with its actual website, app, account, or representative. Look up the legal name through the appropriate Philippine government registry. Then check any required permit or sector licence and independently confirm the payment instructions.
A DTI business name certificate or SEC registration establishes a registration record. A city or municipal business permit and a licence for a regulated activity serve different purposes. Even when the documents are genuine, someone can copy them and pose as the registered business. dtiwebfiles.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com
How to verify a business before you transact
- Ask who will be responsible for the transaction. Get the exact registered name, business address, and contact details. If the store or app uses a brand name, ask for the legal name behind it. For a service, ask who will sign the agreement and issue the invoice. If an agent is involved, confirm their authority with the business through a contact you find independently.
- Search the correct registry. For a sole proprietor using a registered business name, use the DTI Business Name Registration System. For a corporation or partnership, verify the record with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For a business that presents itself as a cooperative, check its registration with the Cooperative Development Authority. Compare the exact name and any available registration number, address, and status. If the search is inconclusive, ask the registering agency to confirm the record. dtiwebfiles.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com
- Check the local permit and any activity-specific licence. Where a local business permit is required, verify it with the issuing city or municipality’s Business Permits and Licensing Office. Check that it covers the relevant address and activity and is current. For regulated services, use the sector regulator’s records as well. A permit for one branch or activity gives you limited information about another. Home
- Match the verified business to the account asking for money. Compare the full website address, store URL, app publisher, contact details, and payment recipient against information obtained independently. If the payee differs from the seller, ask who is collecting the payment and confirm that arrangement through the business’s official channel. Pause if you cannot verify the connection. A familiar logo, QR code, or certificate image can be copied. bsp.gov.ph
Which regulator should you check?
| What you are checking | What to verify |
|---|---|
| Bank, e-wallet, remittance provider, pawnshop, or virtual asset service provider | Search the operator’s legal name and category in the BSP Verifier. A platform’s use of a BSP-supervised bank or e-wallet tells you who handles the payment. Check the platform’s own authority separately. bsp.gov.ph |
| Online lending app run by a lending or financing company | Verify the company’s SEC Certificate of Authority and check that the exact app, website, or brand is linked to that company on the SEC list of recorded online lending platforms. Check SEC advisories for warnings about the operator or platform. Securities and Exchange Commission |
| Investment offer | Ask what is being sold, who is issuing it, and what authority covers the offer. Securities offered or sold in the Philippines generally require an SEC-approved registration statement, subject to statutory exemptions for certain securities or transactions. If the promoter claims an exemption, ask for the specific basis and verify it with the SEC. Check the authority of anyone acting as a broker, dealer, or salesperson where applicable. lawphil.net |
| FDA-regulated establishment or health product | Use the FDA Verification Portal to check the establishment’s licence and, where applicable, the exact product’s registration or authorization. Match the product name, variant, and company to the item being sold. DOH CAR |
| Online gambling site claiming a PAGCOR licence | Check the exact site or platform through PAGCOR’s official verification resources. Confirm the domain independently before opening an account or depositing funds. pagcor.ph |
What to check on an online store or app
Before checkout, look for the seller’s identity and contact details, the total amount payable, delivery or service dates, and the cancellation, return, and complaint terms. Keep a copy of what the seller promised. If you are buying through a marketplace, use its checkout and messaging tools so the order, payment, and complaint can be linked. Moving to a private chat or direct transfer can make it harder to prove what happened or use the platform’s dispute process.
If a seller displays an E-Commerce Philippine Trustmark, look it up directly on the DTI Trustmark portal using the business name, Trustmark number, or store URL. Match the result to the particular storefront you plan to use. A verified Trustmark is one piece of evidence. Check any required sector licence and read the terms of the transaction separately. Homepage
Common mistakes include relying on follower counts or reviews, searching only the brand name, and accepting a certificate screenshot without matching it to the account that contacted you. Treat pressure to pay immediately, a fee to unlock a loan or withdrawal, or a request for your one-time password, PIN, or remote access to your phone as reasons to stop. Use contact details from the provider’s official app or website to check any unexpected request. bsp.gov.ph
If you already paid or shared sensitive information
Contact your bank, card issuer, or e-wallet provider immediately if you suspect fraud, see an unauthorized transaction, or disclosed credentials. Use its official fraud-reporting channel, give the transaction reference, and ask it to secure the account and open a dispute. If you were tricked into approving the transfer yourself, describe exactly what happened. Ask whether the funds can be traced or temporarily held under the applicable rules. Recovery depends on the facts and whether the funds can still be located and held. You can also report an online scam to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center through 1326. Act promptly even if a platform complaint is pending. bsp.gov.ph
Preserve evidence as soon as you can, especially if the seller can edit the listing or delete the account.
- Save the full listing and URL, seller profile, app name and publisher, and any permit, licence, or Trustmark claims.
- Keep the complete chat or email thread, order confirmation, contract or quotation, invoice, delivery record, and photos of the goods and packaging if relevant.
- Save the payment confirmation, transaction reference, recipient details shown in the payment record, and complaint tickets. Write a short timeline with dates, amounts, and what each party promised or did.
- Keep original files and submit copies through official channels. Redact unrelated personal information when sharing records publicly.
Seek prompt legal help if a filing deadline is close, the loss is substantial, or someone is using your identity or threatening you. If a product appears dangerous, stop using it and report it to the appropriate product regulator. The Internet Transactions Act provides for action against listings involving unsafe, dangerous, or prohibited goods or services. lawphil.net
Where to complain and which deadlines matter
- Covered online purchase or service dispute. Under Section 24 of the Internet Transactions Act, use the internal complaint mechanism of the platform, e-marketplace, or e-retailer before filing with a court or government agency or resorting to alternative dispute resolution. The mechanism is deemed exhausted if the complaint remains unresolved seven calendar days after filing. Save proof of when you filed. For consumer disputes within DTI’s jurisdiction, use its official complaint filing page. Include the parties’ details, a short account of what happened, supporting records, and the remedy you seek. lawphil.net
- Complaint about a BSP-supervised provider. File first with the provider through its official assistance channel. If the issue remains unresolved, escalate through BSP consumer assistance, including BSP Online Buddy. Give BSP the provider’s complaint reference and any response you received. For an unauthorized investment offer or an SEC-regulated lender, use the SEC’s official contact and complaint channels. Financial Education
- Deadline to bring a claim. Section 28 of the Internet Transactions Act gives consumers two years from when the cause of action arose to file a claim for damages under that section. Article 169 of the Consumer Act generally gives two years for claims under that Act, counted from consummation of the transaction or commission of the covered act or practice, and from discovery in cases of hidden defects. The applicable deadline depends on the claim and facts. Check platform and payment dispute deadlines separately, and get advice promptly if a legal deadline is near. lawphil.net
The Internet Transactions Act covers qualifying business-to-consumer and business-to-business internet transactions within DTI’s mandate and with the required Philippine connection. It excludes online media content and consumer-to-consumer transactions. An occasional sale of a personal item can fall outside the Act, while a person regularly selling through a social media account may be acting in the ordinary course of business. Other remedies may apply depending on the facts. lawphil.net
Frequently asked questions
What if the store name does not appear in the registry?
Ask for the legal name behind the brand and check the registry for that type of entity. If the name, address, or status still cannot be confirmed, ask the issuing agency before paying. A search result under a similar name is insufficient to identify the seller. dtiwebfiles.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com
Can a marketplace be responsible for a seller’s conduct?
For covered transactions, the merchant or e-retailer generally bears primary liability. The Internet Transactions Act sets out circumstances in which a marketplace or digital platform can also be liable, including failure to act promptly after notice of certain unlawful or dangerous listings. Preserve the complaint or takedown report and the platform’s response. lawphil.net
Does a foreign website fall outside Philippine law?
A foreign operator can fall within the Internet Transactions Act if it serves the Philippine market and has the required minimum contacts here. Coverage depends on the circumstances, and practical recovery can be harder when the operator and its assets are overseas. Confirm the contracting entity and where you can bring a dispute before paying. lawphil.net
Can I use small claims court to recover my payment?
Possibly. The Supreme Court’s small claims procedure covers qualifying money claims of up to ₱1 million, including certain claims arising from sales or services. Whether you can use it depends on the relief sought, who the defendant is, and any applicable filing prerequisites. The Supreme Court’s small claims page provides the rules and forms. Supreme Court of the Philippines
This article provides general information on Philippine law. A lawyer can advise on how the rules apply to your documents, transaction, and deadlines. Official sources checked on 9 November 2026.