Knowing if a business is legitimate
We can't give you advice about whether a specific business is or isn't legitimate.
You should do as much research as possible about a trader and their business. This will help you make informed decisions about buying goods or services from them. This is especially important if you are buying expensive goods or services.
These websites might have information about a trader:
- Choice Magazine
- Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC)
- Scamwatch
- Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)
In extreme cases, we may issue warnings about businesses you should not deal with.
Before dealing with a business, you should:
- check the business has a physical address (preferably local) and landline telephone number
- search the Business Names Register to see if the business or trader’s name is registered
- ask friends and family about their experiences with the business
- look for testimonials, preferably on a website other than the business’s own
- find out if they have a good reputation in the community.