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Practical articles
The first article in this section covers checking a company before a deal. The outcome: you know that the company is registered and active, that its details match those in the contract and on its website, and that you have saved evidence of your check.
Before you start
- A contract, invoice or web page showing the company's details
- The name of the product or service, if you need to check documents for it
- 15 minutes and access to the official register websites
- A folder for saving extracts and screenshots
Find the full company details
You need the full legal name, including the legal form, and the registration number. A brand or trading name is not enough for a check.
Russia: INN (taxpayer ID; 10 digits for an organisation) or OGRN (state registration number; 13 digits). EU: the number in the national company register and the VAT number.
Check the company against the official register
Search only on official websites: third-party aggregators are convenient but may lag behind the register.
Russia: the Federal Tax Service's EGRUL/EGRIP information service (egrul.nalog.ru). EU: the national company register of the country of registration; VAT numbers in the European Commission's VIES system.
Look at the status and key details
The company should be active, not in liquidation or being struck off the register. Compare the name, address and director with the details in the contract.
A company registered a week ago that immediately asks for full prepayment of a large sum is a reason for extra caution, but not proof of fraud.
Check the product documents
If the product is subject to conformity assessment, ask for the certificate or declaration number and find it in the register.
For details, see the page "Certificates and declarations: how to check them".
Check the contact details
The phone number and email address should match the company's official website. Emails from free email services claiming to come from a "large company" are a reason to call back on the official number.
How to verify a person writing on behalf of a company is covered on a separate page.
Save the result of your check
Download an extract or take screenshots showing the date and the page address. Keep your correspondence and the terms of the deal.
Put the date in file names, e.g. 2026-10-15_extract.pdf, so they are easier to find later.
Common mistakes
- Checking the brand instead of the legal entity named in the contract
- Trusting details from an email without checking them against the register
- Using unofficial ad-filled "mirrors" of registers
- Treating registration as a guarantee of good faith
Alternatives
- Paid counterparty-check services: they pull data from several registers but remain a secondary source
- A lawyer's advice: for large and long-term deals
- A deal through a platform with buyer protection: if a check is not possible
Results checklist
- Registration number found and matches the contract
- Company is active according to the official register
- Name, address and director match
- Product documents found in the register and valid
- Contact details match the official website
- Extract and screenshots saved with the date
Publications for English-speaking readers
This section will feature articles written for English-speaking readers around the world. They are independent publications produced for this audience, not translations of material from other language versions of the site.
- GTA 6 Money Systems and Economy Explained: Player FAQ
What is known and unknown about money in GTA 6 before launch, what GTA V and GTA Online suggest, and how to think about real-money trading and money services.
- Aion 2 leveling: What New Players Should Know
New to Aion 2? What to know about leveling after the global launch: faction and class choice, flight combat, pacing and paid leveling risks.
- A closer look at gaming service provider comparisons: Consumer Decision-Making
How to compare boosting, coaching and currency service providers across games: the concepts that matter, realistic scenarios, and the terms-of-service risks.
- Old School RuneScape: Gold — Comparison And Evaluation
An editorial look at Old School RuneScape gold: what GP is used for, how players earn it, what Bonds do, and why real-world trading carries account risk.
Topics the editors are planning
- How to check an online shop based abroad before you buy
- How to verify a company registered in the UK, the US or the EU
- How to read the terms of a cross-border offer
- What to keep as evidence when buying from a foreign seller
Editorial rules
- Articles in this catalogue are written separately for each language version and are not translations.
- Some articles link to third-party websites, including gaming services; we do not control their content, prices or terms.
- We do not publish unverifiable ratings, reviews or company "blacklists".
Related sections
- Reference
Terms, registers and documents: the essentials, explained.
- Questions and answers
Short answers: registers, certificates, promotions, company representatives.
- Reading lists
Reading paths: what to read first, and what to read when you need to go deeper.
Sources
- Federal Tax Service of Russia: egrul.nalog.ru
- Rosaccreditation: pub.fsa.gov.ru
- European Commission: VIES
- EU e-Justice Portal: business registers of the Member States
Information is current as of the date it was prepared. Register addresses and rules change, so check the official websites before making important decisions.