October 13, 2026
October 13, 2026
How to Verify a Company by RC Number Before Signing Anything
An RC number on an invoice, offer letter or tenancy agreement looks official, but scammers print fake ones regularly. Learn how to verify a company by RC number in minutes and catch borrowed or invented registrations before you sign or pay.
An RC number on an invoice, offer letter or tenancy agreement looks official, but scammers print fake ones regularly. Learn how to verify a company by RC number in minutes and catch borrowed or invented registrations before you sign or pay.
The RC number is the one detail that ties a company to its official CAC record. Here is how to check it, and what a mismatch should tell you.
The following is an illustrative example. Ifeanyi's printing business in Onitsha was about to pay a ₦2.8 million deposit for a new machine. The supplier's invoice looked professional: logo, address, "RC 1847263" in the footer. Before transferring, his accountant typed the RC number into the CAC portal. It belonged to a catering company in Ibadan.
That single check saved the deposit. Learning how to verify a company by RC number is one of the fastest, cheapest ways to protect your money in Nigeria, and in 2026 it has become even more useful.
What is an RC number?
An RC number is the unique registration number the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) gives a registered company. Business names get a BN number instead, and incorporated trustees, such as NGOs, churches and associations, get an IT number. Each number points to exactly one record on the CAC register.
Names can be similar, and two businesses can sound almost alike. Numbers cannot. That's why the RC number is the most precise way to confirm you're dealing with a specific, real company (Legit.ng, 2026).
Prefix | What it identifies | Example of who uses it |
|---|---|---|
RC | Limited companies (Ltd, Plc, Ltd/Gte) | Suppliers, developers, recruitment firms |
BN | Registered business names | Sole traders, small shops, freelancers |
IT | Incorporated trustees | NGOs, churches, associations, foundations |
Why RC numbers matter more in 2026
Two developments make RC checks more powerful this year:
Companies must now display their RC number. CAC began enforcing the business letter requirements of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020 on 1 August 2026. Section 304 requires a company's registered name, registration number and directors' names on its business letters, and Section 729(1)(c) requires the name and registration number on invoices, receipts, notices and adverts (OAL via Mondaq, 2026). A genuine company should have no problem giving you its RC number.
Fake numbers are in circulation. In December 2025, the CAC publicly named 15 entities displaying RC, BN and IT numbers that do not exist in its database, and urged the public to verify any company on its portal before doing business (BusinessDay, 2025).
And real numbers can go stale. In July 2026, the CAC gave another 100,000 non-compliant companies 90 days to regularise or be struck off, after striking off more than 400,000 in 2025 (Techeconomy, 2026).
How to verify a company by RC number: step by step
Find the RC number. Look on the invoice, letterhead, contract, offer letter or receipt. If it isn't there, ask for it. A refusal is a red flag.
Open the CAC public search. Type search.cac.gov.ng into your browser yourself. The search is free and needs no account.
Enter the number exactly as printed, including the prefix (for example, RC1234567 or BN1234567).
Read the result carefully. Note the registered name, registration date, entity type and status.
Compare it with your documents. The name on the CAC record must match the name on the invoice, contract and bank account, letter for letter.
Check the status. "Active" is what you want. "Inactive" or "Struck off" needs an explanation before any payment.
Save proof. Screenshot the result or print it to PDF as a record of your due diligence.
Match the RC number across every document
The most common trick isn't a made-up number. It's a real RC number borrowed from a genuine company. The search will return a valid result, just for the wrong business. So check that everything lines up:
Document | What should match the CAC record |
|---|---|
Invoice or quotation | Company name and RC number |
Letterhead or offer letter | Company name, RC number and directors' names |
Contract or tenancy agreement | Company name, RC number, signatory's role |
Bank account for payment | Account name should match the registered company name |
Website and email | Same company name; a business email domain rather than a free webmail address for large deals |
If one detail is off, ask why. Genuine companies can explain a subsidiary or a trading name. Scammers usually change the subject or push for payment.
Red flags in an RC number check
The vendor refuses to share an RC number, or says "we're registered, you don't need it".
The RC number returns a different company name.
The number returns no record at all.
The status shows Inactive or Struck off, but the company claims years of active trading.
The company was registered days ago but claims a long track record.
The payment account is in a personal name, not the company's.
The letterhead has an RC number but no directors' names, now that CAC is enforcing those requirements.
Beyond the RC number: what the check can't tell you
An RC number check confirms the company exists and is in good standing. It doesn't confirm that the person contacting you works for it, that the company is solvent, or that it delivers what it promises.
For job offers, remember that government agencies are not registered with CAC like companies, and they announce recruitment through official channels. In August 2026, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission warned that AI-generated employment letters were circulating in its name and said no recruitment was ongoing (Nairametrics, 2026).
For bulk supplies, use the RC check as step one. Our guide to fuel scams following Nigeria's price hike shows how a full supplier check works in practice. For high-value deals, Profiled Nigeria's business verification goes further, confirming registration, directors, address and fraud signals in one report.
What to do if the RC number doesn't check out
Don't pay, and don't sign. Pause the deal until the company explains the mismatch in writing.
If you've already paid, call your bank's fraud desk immediately and ask them to flag the receiving account.
Keep evidence: the invoice or letter, your CAC search result, chats and payment receipts.
Report to the police and the EFCC. If someone is using a fake or borrowed registration number, alert the CAC through its official channels at cac.gov.ng.
Warn your network, especially trade associations and business groups where the same vendor may be active.
FAQ
What is an RC number in Nigeria? An RC number is the registration number the Corporate Affairs Commission assigns to a registered company, such as a limited liability company or a plc. It identifies one specific record on the CAC register. You can search it for free on search.cac.gov.ng to confirm the company's registered name, registration date and current status before doing business with it.
What is the difference between RC and BN numbers? RC numbers belong to incorporated companies, which are separate legal entities. BN numbers belong to registered business names, usually sole traders or partnerships trading under a name. IT numbers belong to incorporated trustees such as NGOs and churches. All three can be checked on the same CAC public search portal, by number or by name.
Must a company show its RC number on invoices? Yes. Under CAMA 2020, a company's name and registration number should appear on invoices, receipts, official notices and adverts, and its business letters should also list its directors. The CAC began enforcing these business letter requirements on 1 August 2026. A company that refuses to share its RC number deserves extra caution.
What if the RC number belongs to a different company? Do not pay or sign. A real RC number attached to the wrong name usually means someone has borrowed a genuine company's registration to look legitimate. Ask for a written explanation, contact the registered company through details you find yourself, and report the mismatch to the police, the EFCC and the CAC if it looks deliberate.
Does a valid RC number mean the company is trustworthy? Not on its own. A valid, active RC number proves the company exists and is in good standing with the CAC. It doesn't prove the person you're dealing with represents it, or that the company delivers on its promises. Combine the RC check with an account-name match, independent contact details and, for large deals, a full business verification.
Conclusion
An RC number is the single most precise way to tie a business to its official CAC record. Knowing how to verify a company by RC number, and matching it across invoices, letters, contracts and bank accounts, catches most fake and borrowed registrations before they cost you anything.
Profiled Nigeria helps you go beyond the register. Our business and vendor verification confirms registration, directors, address and fraud signals in one report, iAMProfiled confirms the person you're dealing with is who they claim to be, and DigiLock keeps you ahead of the fraud patterns targeting Nigerian businesses. No check removes every risk, but layered checks make you a much harder target. Read why digital trust in Nigeria cannot wait, and whether Nigeria's anti-fraud policies are making us safer.
No RC, no deal. Wrong RC, no deal.
Create your free Profiled account today and verify before you commit.
The RC number is the one detail that ties a company to its official CAC record. Here is how to check it, and what a mismatch should tell you.
The following is an illustrative example. Ifeanyi's printing business in Onitsha was about to pay a ₦2.8 million deposit for a new machine. The supplier's invoice looked professional: logo, address, "RC 1847263" in the footer. Before transferring, his accountant typed the RC number into the CAC portal. It belonged to a catering company in Ibadan.
That single check saved the deposit. Learning how to verify a company by RC number is one of the fastest, cheapest ways to protect your money in Nigeria, and in 2026 it has become even more useful.
What is an RC number?
An RC number is the unique registration number the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) gives a registered company. Business names get a BN number instead, and incorporated trustees, such as NGOs, churches and associations, get an IT number. Each number points to exactly one record on the CAC register.
Names can be similar, and two businesses can sound almost alike. Numbers cannot. That's why the RC number is the most precise way to confirm you're dealing with a specific, real company (Legit.ng, 2026).
Prefix | What it identifies | Example of who uses it |
|---|---|---|
RC | Limited companies (Ltd, Plc, Ltd/Gte) | Suppliers, developers, recruitment firms |
BN | Registered business names | Sole traders, small shops, freelancers |
IT | Incorporated trustees | NGOs, churches, associations, foundations |
Why RC numbers matter more in 2026
Two developments make RC checks more powerful this year:
Companies must now display their RC number. CAC began enforcing the business letter requirements of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020 on 1 August 2026. Section 304 requires a company's registered name, registration number and directors' names on its business letters, and Section 729(1)(c) requires the name and registration number on invoices, receipts, notices and adverts (OAL via Mondaq, 2026). A genuine company should have no problem giving you its RC number.
Fake numbers are in circulation. In December 2025, the CAC publicly named 15 entities displaying RC, BN and IT numbers that do not exist in its database, and urged the public to verify any company on its portal before doing business (BusinessDay, 2025).
And real numbers can go stale. In July 2026, the CAC gave another 100,000 non-compliant companies 90 days to regularise or be struck off, after striking off more than 400,000 in 2025 (Techeconomy, 2026).
How to verify a company by RC number: step by step
Find the RC number. Look on the invoice, letterhead, contract, offer letter or receipt. If it isn't there, ask for it. A refusal is a red flag.
Open the CAC public search. Type search.cac.gov.ng into your browser yourself. The search is free and needs no account.
Enter the number exactly as printed, including the prefix (for example, RC1234567 or BN1234567).
Read the result carefully. Note the registered name, registration date, entity type and status.
Compare it with your documents. The name on the CAC record must match the name on the invoice, contract and bank account, letter for letter.
Check the status. "Active" is what you want. "Inactive" or "Struck off" needs an explanation before any payment.
Save proof. Screenshot the result or print it to PDF as a record of your due diligence.
Match the RC number across every document
The most common trick isn't a made-up number. It's a real RC number borrowed from a genuine company. The search will return a valid result, just for the wrong business. So check that everything lines up:
Document | What should match the CAC record |
|---|---|
Invoice or quotation | Company name and RC number |
Letterhead or offer letter | Company name, RC number and directors' names |
Contract or tenancy agreement | Company name, RC number, signatory's role |
Bank account for payment | Account name should match the registered company name |
Website and email | Same company name; a business email domain rather than a free webmail address for large deals |
If one detail is off, ask why. Genuine companies can explain a subsidiary or a trading name. Scammers usually change the subject or push for payment.
Red flags in an RC number check
The vendor refuses to share an RC number, or says "we're registered, you don't need it".
The RC number returns a different company name.
The number returns no record at all.
The status shows Inactive or Struck off, but the company claims years of active trading.
The company was registered days ago but claims a long track record.
The payment account is in a personal name, not the company's.
The letterhead has an RC number but no directors' names, now that CAC is enforcing those requirements.
Beyond the RC number: what the check can't tell you
An RC number check confirms the company exists and is in good standing. It doesn't confirm that the person contacting you works for it, that the company is solvent, or that it delivers what it promises.
For job offers, remember that government agencies are not registered with CAC like companies, and they announce recruitment through official channels. In August 2026, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission warned that AI-generated employment letters were circulating in its name and said no recruitment was ongoing (Nairametrics, 2026).
For bulk supplies, use the RC check as step one. Our guide to fuel scams following Nigeria's price hike shows how a full supplier check works in practice. For high-value deals, Profiled Nigeria's business verification goes further, confirming registration, directors, address and fraud signals in one report.
What to do if the RC number doesn't check out
Don't pay, and don't sign. Pause the deal until the company explains the mismatch in writing.
If you've already paid, call your bank's fraud desk immediately and ask them to flag the receiving account.
Keep evidence: the invoice or letter, your CAC search result, chats and payment receipts.
Report to the police and the EFCC. If someone is using a fake or borrowed registration number, alert the CAC through its official channels at cac.gov.ng.
Warn your network, especially trade associations and business groups where the same vendor may be active.
FAQ
What is an RC number in Nigeria? An RC number is the registration number the Corporate Affairs Commission assigns to a registered company, such as a limited liability company or a plc. It identifies one specific record on the CAC register. You can search it for free on search.cac.gov.ng to confirm the company's registered name, registration date and current status before doing business with it.
What is the difference between RC and BN numbers? RC numbers belong to incorporated companies, which are separate legal entities. BN numbers belong to registered business names, usually sole traders or partnerships trading under a name. IT numbers belong to incorporated trustees such as NGOs and churches. All three can be checked on the same CAC public search portal, by number or by name.
Must a company show its RC number on invoices? Yes. Under CAMA 2020, a company's name and registration number should appear on invoices, receipts, official notices and adverts, and its business letters should also list its directors. The CAC began enforcing these business letter requirements on 1 August 2026. A company that refuses to share its RC number deserves extra caution.
What if the RC number belongs to a different company? Do not pay or sign. A real RC number attached to the wrong name usually means someone has borrowed a genuine company's registration to look legitimate. Ask for a written explanation, contact the registered company through details you find yourself, and report the mismatch to the police, the EFCC and the CAC if it looks deliberate.
Does a valid RC number mean the company is trustworthy? Not on its own. A valid, active RC number proves the company exists and is in good standing with the CAC. It doesn't prove the person you're dealing with represents it, or that the company delivers on its promises. Combine the RC check with an account-name match, independent contact details and, for large deals, a full business verification.
Conclusion
An RC number is the single most precise way to tie a business to its official CAC record. Knowing how to verify a company by RC number, and matching it across invoices, letters, contracts and bank accounts, catches most fake and borrowed registrations before they cost you anything.
Profiled Nigeria helps you go beyond the register. Our business and vendor verification confirms registration, directors, address and fraud signals in one report, iAMProfiled confirms the person you're dealing with is who they claim to be, and DigiLock keeps you ahead of the fraud patterns targeting Nigerian businesses. No check removes every risk, but layered checks make you a much harder target. Read why digital trust in Nigeria cannot wait, and whether Nigeria's anti-fraud policies are making us safer.
No RC, no deal. Wrong RC, no deal.
Create your free Profiled account today and verify before you commit.
