Before signing or paying anything, check that the company exists, that it is active, and that the person writing to you really represents it. It is free and takes ten minutes.
1. Ask for the right information
- The full official name. For a Chinese or Thai company, ask for the name in Chinese or Thai: an English name is not the official name.
- The registration number (see the table below).
- The registered address and the name of the legal representative.
- A copy of the registration certificate (in China: the business licence, 营业执照).
2. Check the country's official register
| Country | Official register (free) | Number to enter | What to look at |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | annuaire-entreprises.data.gouv.fr | SIREN (9 digits) or SIRET (14 digits) | “En activité” (active), creation date, directors |
| Other European Union countries | VIES (European Commission), then the country's register via the e-Justice portal | EU VAT number (2 country letters, then digits) | “Valid”; name and address (depending on the country) |
| China | www.gsxt.gov.cn (in Chinese) | Unified social credit code (18 characters) | Status 存续 or 在业 = active; 注销 (deregistered) or 吊销 (licence revoked) = danger; listed for abnormal operations (经营异常名录) |
| Thailand | datawarehouse.dbd.go.th | Juristic person number (13 digits) | Status “active”, capital, directors, filed accounts |
| Vietnam | dangkykinhdoanh.gov.vn | Enterprise code (10 digits, also its tax number) | Status “active”, creation date, legal representative |
3. Compare, line by line
The name, address and representative given by your contact must match the register exactly. A single difference is a good reason to ask questions before going further.
4. Warning signs
- Payment requested to a private person's account, or in a country other than the company's.
- A sudden change of bank details, “following an audit”.
- A large company writing from a free e-mail address.
- Urgency, a price far below the market, a large deposit before any contract.
- Refusal of a video call or a visit.
5. If in doubt
- Do not pay anything and ask for a written contract.
- In France: Info Escroqueries 0 805 805 817 (free call, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 6.30 pm) and www.internet-signalement.gouv.fr.
- French chambers of commerce abroad (see the Countries pages).
- Write to us: checking before introducing is our job.
Sources: official websites of the registers listed; French Ministry of the Interior (Info Escroqueries). Checked on 13 October 2026.