How to Spot a Fake CAC Certificate in 30 Seconds

Yes, easily. A certificate is just a PDF, and anyone can recreate the layout, add a logo and type in a believable RC number. You can't tell a fake from the document alone, which is why you confirm the RC number, name and incorporation date against the official register instead.

Take the RC/BN number and exact company name from the certificate and search them on the official register. On verify free on Fylings, search by name (fylings.com/?q=NAME) or number, then check that the name, registration number and incorporation date all match, plus the live status.

No. A certificate is a snapshot from when the company was registered. The company could since have been dissolved, struck off or gone dormant while the old certificate still looks valid. Always check the current status on the register, not just the paper.

Treat the certificate as fake. A genuine registration number always resolves to a real company on the official record. If the number doesn't appear, or it appears under a different company name, do not proceed with the transaction.

Yes. Looking up a company on Fylings is free. You get the name, RC/BN number, status, incorporation date, type and TIN, along with the source and last-verified date, at no cost.

Yes. The RC or BN number is the unique key to a company on the register, so you can look it up directly. The best check is to confirm that number resolves to the same company name and incorporation date shown on the certificate.