Verify That a Registration Number Belongs to the Company Claiming It
Official SSM Registry Check · Both Old and New Number Formats Supported
A company registration number on an invoice or contract is only valuable if it actually belongs to the entity presenting it. Enter the number and confirm: is this number real, is the company still active, and does the name match? Invoice fraud, identity theft, and shell company schemes all depend on the other party not checking. One search changes that.
Results in Minutes
What You Get with a Company Registration Number Search
Number Validity
Whether the registration number is a real, existing number in the SSM registry. A number that resolves to no entity is either fabricated, incorrectly provided, or belongs to a different registry.
Name-to-Number Match
Whether the company name you were given matches the name registered under that number. A mismatch, even a single word difference is a significant red flag.
Entity Status
Whether the company registered under that number is currently Active, Struck Off, Wound Up, or Dormant. An inactive entity cannot legally fulfil contracts.
Incorporation Date
When the entity was originally incorporated. The year is embedded in the 12-digit number format. A useful quick check before running a full search.
Malaysian Registration Number Formats Explained
Old Format vs New 12-Digit Format – What You Need to Know
When the Companies Act 2016 came into force, all Malaysian companies migrated to a new 12-digit registration number system called MyCoID. If you are working with contracts, invoices, or records predating 2017, you will encounter the legacy format.
- Legacy Format (pre-2017): Legacy numbers used alphanumeric formats such as 123456-U, 789012-A, or 345678-H. These were issued by the former Registrar of Companies and range from 6 to 10 characters. If a number you are holding looks like this, it is a pre-conversion number.
- New 12-Digit Format (post-2017): The new format follows the structure YYYYNNNNNNNN – four digits representing the year of incorporation, followed by an 8-digit sequence number. For example: 199601000123 indicates a company incorporated in 1996. 202401000456 indicates a company incorporated in 2024.
- What This Means When You Search: SSM Search support both formats. If you have a legacy number, enter it directly, the system maps it to the current 12-digit identifier. If a search on the new number returns nothing, try searching by company name to locate the current number.
- Why the Year in the Number Matters: The incorporation year embedded in the 12-digit number is visible without running a full search. A company presenting itself as an established business but showing a registration number beginning with '202' was incorporated in 2020 or later. This is useful context before you even open the full profile.
Registration Number Fraud Indicators
Red Flags to Watch for When Verifying a Registration Number
A registration number check is not just confirming a number exists, it is identifying patterns that indicate the number may not be what it appears to be. These are the specific scenarios that warrant additional scrutiny:
- Name Mismatch: The most common fraud pattern: the number is real, but it belongs to a different company than the one on the invoice. The fraudulent party uses a real registration number from a legitimate company, pairs it with a similar-sounding name, and hopes the buyer does not check. Even a one-word difference between the registered name and the invoice name should be treated as a mismatch until resolved.
- Number Belongs to a Struck-Off or Wound-Up Entity: A registration number that resolves to a company that is no longer Active means the entity cannot legally transact. Fraudulent invoices sometimes use numbers belonging to dissolved companies because the dissolved company will not raise a dispute. Never release payment to an entity whose registration number resolves to a non-Active status.
- Company Incorporated Very Recently for a Large Contract: If a company presenting a large-value invoice or contract was incorporated in the past 3–6 months, that warrants additional verification. The registration year is visible in the first four digits of the 12-digit number. A newly formed company can be legitimate, but a newly formed company with no track record, no financial history, and a large upfront payment request is a risk pattern.
- Number Format Does Not Match Entity Type: Sole proprietorships registered under ROB use a different number format from SSM-incorporated companies. If a business presents itself as a Sdn Bhd but the number format looks like a ROB business number or vice versa, the entity type does not match the claimed structure. Request clarification before proceeding.
- Single-Digit or Character Transposition: Deliberate transpositions, swapping one digit or character in a real registration number are used to pass a superficial check while pointing to a different or non-existent entity. Always search the exact number as provided, then compare the returned entity name to the presented name character by character.
Who Performs Registration Number Checks – and Why
Finance and Accounts Payable Teams
Every invoice received from a new supplier should have its registration number verified before payment approval. Finance teams use registration number checks to confirm the vendor entity is real, active, and the name on the invoice matches the registered name. This is the primary control against fraudulent invoices and Business Email Compromise (BEC) payment redirection scams.
E-Commerce Platforms and Marketplace Operators
When onboarding business sellers, marketplace operators verify that the registration number provided by the seller matches the entity name in the seller agreement. This prevents fraudulent sellers from using real registration numbers belonging to other companies to appear legitimate.
Compliance and Vendor Onboarding Teams
During large-scale vendor onboarding, compliance teams cross-reference each vendor's registration number against the SSM registry to confirm the entity exists, is active, and matches the onboarding documentation. This is particularly important for organisations subject to anti-bribery, anti-corruption, or AML regulations that require vendor due diligence documentation.
Legal and Secretarial Professionals
When drafting contracts, legal teams confirm that the registration number stated in the agreement belongs to the entity named as the contracting party. An incorrect registration number in a contract can affect the document's legal enforceability.
Finance and Accounts Payable Teams
Every invoice received from a new supplier should have its registration number verified before payment approval. Finance teams use registration number checks to confirm the vendor entity is real, active, and the name on the invoice matches the registered name. This is the primary control against fraudulent invoices and Business Email Compromise (BEC) payment redirection scams.
Compliance and Vendor Onboarding Teams
During large-scale vendor onboarding, compliance teams cross-reference each vendor's registration number against the SSM registry to confirm the entity exists, is active, and matches the onboarding documentation. This is particularly important for organisations subject to anti-bribery, anti-corruption, or AML regulations that require vendor due diligence documentation.
E-Commerce Platforms and Marketplace Operators
When onboarding business sellers, marketplace operators verify that the registration number provided by the seller matches the entity name in the seller agreement. This prevents fraudulent sellers from using real registration numbers belonging to other companies to appear legitimate.
Legal and Secretarial Professionals
When drafting contracts, legal teams confirm that the registration number stated in the agreement belongs to the entity named as the contracting party. An incorrect registration number in a contract can affect the document's legal enforceability.
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Common Questions About
Company Registration Numbers
Enter the registration number into an SSM-authorised search platform. The result shows the company registered under that number, including its name, current status, registered address, and director details. Compare the returned company name against the name you were given to confirm they match.
Post-2016, Malaysian company registration numbers are 12 digits following the format YYYYNNNNNNNN, the year of incorporation followed by a sequence number (e.g., 202001000123). Pre-2016 legacy numbers used alphanumeric formats such as 123456-U. Both formats are searchable on SSM-authorised platforms.
Yes. SSM Search support both the pre-2016 legacy format and the current 12-digit MyCoID format. Enter the legacy number directly and the system maps it to the current identifier and returns the associated company profile.
A number that returns no results may be invalid, incorrectly recorded, belong to a different registry (ROB rather than SSM), or have been entered with a transposition error. Try searching by the company name instead. If the name also returns no results, the entity may not be registered with SSM or ROB.
Yes. Search the registration number and compare the returned company name to the name on your invoice. Any mismatch including minor spelling differences, word order variations, or missing words should be treated as a discrepancy requiring resolution before payment.
A company registration number is issued by SSM to formally incorporated entities (Sdn Bhd, Berhad, LLP). A business registration number is issued under ROB to sole proprietorships and partnerships. Both are managed by SSM but use different formats and appear in different registry systems. SSM-authorised platforms search both.
No. A company registration number (MyCoID) identifies a legal entity in the SSM registry. A Tax Identification Number (TIN) is issued by LHDN for tax purposes. They serve different purposes, SSM registration confirms legal existence, while a TIN confirms tax registration status. A company can have one without the other.
No. The registration number is a permanent unique identifier for the legal entity, regardless of name changes. If a company legally changes its name, the new name appears on the SSM registry but the registration number remains the same. This is why searching by number, not just by name is important when dealing with companies that may have rebranded.
No. Each registration number is unique to one legal entity in Malaysia. If two entities are claiming the same registration number, one of them is presenting fraudulent information. Do not proceed with any transaction until you have confirmed which entity legitimately holds the number through an official SSM search.
Search the company name on an SSM Search. The results list will show matching entities with their registration numbers. If multiple companies have similar names, compare the registered address and entity type against what you have been provided to confirm the correct entity before recording the number.
Guide: How to Verify a
Company Registration Number
4 Easy Steps to Accuracy
01
Enter ID
Input the old or new company registration number into the search field.
02
Confirm Entity
Review the search result to ensure the legal name matches your records.
03
Choose Certificate
Select the "Company Profile" or "Certificate of Incorporation" for full legal proof.
04
Download & Save
Complete your purchase and download the PDF instantly to your device.
What To Do If the Number Does Not Match
If the name returned by the registration number search does not match the name on your invoice or contract:
- Do not release payment or sign the agreement until the discrepancy is resolved.
- Contact the entity via an independently verified contact, not the contact details they have given you.
- Request clarification in writing, citing the specific registration number and the name returned by the SSM search.
- If the entity cannot explain the mismatch, treat it as a fraud indicator and escalate internally.
Continue Your Verification
Registration number confirmed? Continue with:
- Company Status Check: Confirm the company is currently Active and not struck off or under liquidation.
- Full Company Profile: Get the complete record of directors, shareholders, financial history, and registered address, to complete your due diligence.
- Director Search: Check the directors registered under this entity to identify any unusual appointment patterns or cross-company risk.
Your Gateway to Accurate
Company Registration Data
Our portal is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of corporate transparency in Malaysia. By specializing in company registration number verification, we help businesses eliminate data silos and prevent administrative errors.
Whether you are migrating old databases or performing due diligence, our platform provides the speed and reliability you require. With cost-saving options like our RM5 DCTC discount, the S-Point reward system, and our Plan, we are the preferred partner for official business intelligence.
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