Quick answer: find the right contact route
Anyone who advises you on, or sells you, a financial product in South Africa should be an authorised Financial Services Provider. You can check that yourself, free, using the Entity and Persons Search published on fsca.co.za. The Financial Sector Conduct Authority regulates the market conduct of financial institutions, and its published telephone number is 0800 203 722. This page explains how to run the check and, more importantly, how to read what it tells you. Verified 18 August 2026.
Running the check
- Type fsca.co.za into your browser. Do not follow a link supplied by the person or firm you are checking, which would defeat the purpose.
- Open the Entity and Persons Search and choose the financial services providers option.
- Search by the FSP number first if you were given one, then by company name. Running it both ways is what catches a borrowed licence.
- Compare the registered name against the name on the documents, the website and the bank account you are being asked to pay.
- Check the warnings and alerts published in the FSCA’s news section for the company name, and the list of entities under statutory management.
How to read the result
A register entry is a starting point, not a character reference. Three distinctions decide whether it actually protects you.
- The name must match, not just the number. A licence number that returns a different company from the one you are dealing with is the single most useful red flag the register produces.
- Authorisation is not endorsement. Being licensed means the provider is regulated and accountable. It is not a statement that a particular product is suitable, safe or likely to perform.
- Authorisation has a scope. Providers are licensed for particular categories of financial product. A provider licensed for one type of business is not thereby authorised to sell you something else.
- Individuals matter as well as firms. The search covers persons, so where an individual adviser is dealing with you, check whether that person is associated with the firm they claim to represent.
If the provider is not listed
Treat an absent entry as decisive rather than as a technicality to be explained away. The common explanations offered are worth naming, because they are the script.
- “We are registered offshore.” An offshore licence does not authorise soliciting South African customers, and it puts any dispute beyond the reach of South African remedies.
- “Our licence is pending.” Pending is not authorised, and a firm taking money before authorisation is telling you something important about itself.
- “We operate under a partner’s licence.” Ask for the partner’s name and FSP number and check that instead, then ask why you are paying the entity that is not licensed.
- “The register is out of date.” Confirm directly with the FSCA rather than accepting this from the party who benefits.
Official contact details
| Route | Detail | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| FSCA Entity and Persons Search | fsca.co.za | Checking an authorised Financial Services Provider |
| FSCA warnings and alerts | fsca.co.za, news section | Public warnings naming specific entities |
| Entities under statutory management | fsca.co.za | Firms placed under management |
| FSCA telephone | 0800 203 722 | General enquiries |
| FSCA reporting line | [email protected], SMS 49017 | Reporting misconduct through the independent hotline |
| SAPS | 10111, or any station | Criminal matters and a case number |
The FSCA lists separate addresses for media and technical queries, so use the general routes above for consumer matters rather than an address intended for journalists.
What to prepare before you check or complain
- The exact registered name as it appears on documents, not the trading or marketing name alone.
- The FSP number quoted to you, and where it was quoted.
- The adviser’s full name and the firm they say they represent.
- The product documents, including any quotation, contract or certificate.
- Bank account details you were asked to pay, with dates and amounts.
Complaint and escalation routes
Where the provider is authorised, complain to the firm in writing first and keep the reference number, because every subsequent route will ask whether you did. If that fails, the relevant ombud for financial services providers handles disputes about advice and intermediary services, and the National Financial Ombud handles banking and credit matters. Confirm jurisdiction and eligibility with either body before lodging, since the correct forum depends on the product.
Where the provider is not authorised, this is not primarily a regulatory dispute. Report the entity to the FSCA so it can act and warn others, open a SAPS case, and pursue your bank in writing for any payment. The FSCA is a conduct regulator rather than a recovery service and will not retrieve your money.
Related contact pages
- Fake Investment Company South Africa: the warning signs in an offer itself.
- Company Impersonation Scam South Africa: how borrowed names and numbers are used.
- Banking Scam Prevention South Africa: protecting the accounts used to pay.
- Verify Contact Details South Africa: the general verification method.
- Report A Scam South Africa: which body handles which kind of loss.
Frequently asked questions
Is checking the FSP register free?
Yes. The Entity and Persons Search is published on fsca.co.za and costs nothing. Anyone offering to verify a provider’s licence for you for a fee is selling something you can do yourself in a minute.
Does authorisation mean my money is safe?
No. It means the provider is licensed, regulated and accountable, and that complaint routes exist. It is not a guarantee about any product’s performance or suitability, and licensed firms can still fail or treat customers badly.
What information should I prepare?
The exact registered name, the FSP number and where it was quoted, the adviser’s full name and firm, the product documents, and the bank account details you were asked to pay with dates and amounts.
What should I do if I cannot get help?
Complain to the firm in writing and keep the reference, then approach the appropriate ombud after confirming it has jurisdiction over that product. Report an unauthorised provider to the FSCA and open a SAPS case, and pursue any payment through your bank in writing.
Last verified 18 August 2026 against fsca.co.za.