How do I know if a seller's business registration details are genuine and not fabricated?
Short answer: Look up the seller's stated ABN or business registration number directly through the official government business registry rather than trusting a document or number they've provided you, since independent verification is the only way to confirm the details are genuine rather than fabricated or borrowed from another business.
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Source Scrap →Why independent lookup is the meaningful check
Any document or number a seller provides could theoretically be fabricated or borrowed from a legitimate business without their knowledge — checking the actual number against an official, independent government business registry is what genuinely confirms whether it’s real and matches the business claiming it.
What to actually verify
Confirm the registration number is valid and active, and that the registered business name matches what the seller told you — a mismatch between the registered name and what you were given is a significant warning sign worth investigating further before proceeding.
What to do if something doesn’t match
If the independent lookup doesn’t match what the seller claimed, ask them directly to explain the discrepancy before proceeding — a legitimate seller should be able to clarify a genuine misunderstanding, while an inability to explain a real mismatch is a serious red flag.
How ScrapTrade Makes This Easier
Sellers on ScrapTrade have their business registration checked as part of the platform’s verification process, giving you a checked starting point before you even need to independently verify every new contact.
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