How to Verify Who You Are Dealing With (ASIC Registers)

Many investing problems start with a simple confusion: “Who is this, exactly?” A website can look legitimate. A brand can sound familiar. A person can speak confidently on a call.

In Australia, a large part of verification is not about intuition. It is about checking public records that describe legal entities, licences, and authorisations.

ASIC maintains public registers that can be searched to confirm whether a business is licensed to provide financial services, whether a person is an authorised representative, and what activities they are permitted to conduct.^¹ This does not guarantee honesty or competence, but it reduces the risk of dealing with a completely invented identity.

This article explains what ASIC registers are, what they can and cannot prove, and how to interpret common fields.

This is general educational information, not personal financial advice.

The purpose of ASIC registers#

ASIC registers are public databases. They exist to support transparency and accountability in Australia’s corporate and financial services system.

At a high level, registers help answer questions such as:

• Is this business a real legal entity?
• Does it hold an Australian Financial Services (AFS) licence?
• Is this individual listed as an authorised representative or financial adviser?
• What permissions does the licence cover?

Verification is not a moral judgement. It is identity hygiene.

The key ASIC registers most relevant to investing#

ASIC Professional Registers (financial services)#

ASIC’s Professional Registers include information on AFS licensees and related roles.^¹ Depending on the register, this can include:

• AFS Licensee details
• Authorised representatives
• Credit licensees
• Financial advisers (where applicable)

For everyday consumers, the AFS-related registers tend to be the most relevant starting point.

ASIC company register and organisation details#

ASIC also maintains company information (including company names, ACNs, and registered addresses) through its registers.^²

This helps confirm whether a brand name corresponds to a registered company, and whether contact details line up with what the business claims.

Some company extracts require a paid search. Even without paying, basic identification information is often available.

What the AFS Licensee register can tell you#

An AFS licence is not a single permission. It is a bundle of authorisations.

Common fields in register entries include:

• Legal name and licence number: the identity anchor.
• Business names: trading names connected to the entity.
• Address and contact details: which can be cross-checked against websites and emails.
• Authorisations and conditions: what financial services the licensee is authorised to provide, and under what conditions.
• Status: current, suspended, or cancelled (as applicable).

A licence entry can also link to authorised representatives. That matters because many individuals and smaller firms operate under another entity’s licence as an authorised representative.

“Authorised representative” is not the same as “licensee”#

In Australian financial services, a person or business can be authorised to provide specified services on behalf of a licensee.^¹

This is common in advice and distribution businesses.

The practical implication is that verification often involves two names:

• The person or business a consumer is speaking with
• The AFS licensee whose licence they operate under

The register is designed to show this relationship. The relationship is important because responsibility and compliance obligations sit with the licensee.

Common interpretation traps#

Trading names and brand families#

Brands can be confusing. A website might use a product brand that is not the legal entity. Registers often show both business names and legal names, but the mapping is not always intuitive.

A basic cross-check is consistency: brand name, licence holder name, and contact details should align in a way that can be traced in the registers.

“Registered” does not mean “regulated for this activity”#

A company can be registered with ASIC and still have no authority to provide financial services. Company registration is not a substitute for licensing.

Likewise, an ABN is a tax and business identifier. It does not establish financial services permissions.

Overseas entities and look-alike names#

Some scams rely on look-alike names that mimic legitimate firms. Registers help by showing exact legal spelling and numbers (ACN, licence number).^¹²

A “soul” line that often holds up is that scammers do not invent everything. They often borrow just enough truth to feel familiar.

What ASIC registers cannot prove#

Registers are necessary, not sufficient.

A register entry cannot guarantee:

• That a person is acting honestly
• That a product is appropriate for a consumer
• That the consumer will not lose money
• That the person contacting a consumer is genuinely affiliated with the entity they claim

Impersonation is possible. For example, a scammer can claim to represent a real licensee. Registers help establish what the real entity looks like, but they do not authenticate emails, phone numbers, or social media accounts.

This is why verification often also involves communication security checks, such as independent contact verification and multi-factor authentication practices.^³

A “verification mindset” that fits real life#

A verification mindset is not paranoia. It is an acknowledgement that investing involves real money, and that identity fraud exists.

In practice, verification often comes down to:

• Confirming the legal entity exists and is the entity being dealt with
• Confirming the entity’s authorisations match what it claims to do
• Confirming that contact details used in conversations match the official details shown in registers

This is not a guarantee of safety. It is a reduction of basic avoidable risk.

Closing#

ASIC registers provide public information about companies and financial services licensing in Australia. They can confirm whether an entity holds an AFS licence, whether a person or business is authorised, and what permissions apply.^¹²

They are best treated as identity infrastructure. They reduce confusion and expose simple red flags, even though they cannot eliminate fraud or poor outcomes on their own.

Summary#

ASIC maintains public registers that help verify the identity and licensing status of financial services providers in Australia. The AFS-related registers can show whether an entity is licensed or authorised, and what services it is permitted to provide. Registers are useful for basic verification, but they do not guarantee honesty or prevent impersonation, so they work best as part of broader security hygiene.

Sources#

1. Australian Securities and Investments Commission. (n.d.). ASIC Professional Registers. https://asic.gov.au/online-services/search-asics-registers/
2. Australian Securities and Investments Commission. (n.d.). Search ASIC’s registers. https://asic.gov.au/online-services/search-asics-registers/
3. Australian Securities and Investments Commission. (n.d.). Scams and cyber security. Moneysmart. https://moneysmart.gov.au/scams
4. Australian Government. (2001). Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). https://www.legislation.gov.au/