How to Check If a Lender or Investment Firm Is Licensed

Short answer: Before you borrow from a lender or invest with a firm, open TrustCheck's Licence check, type the company's name, and see whether it appears on the official registers of the Bank of Ghana, the SEC, the NIC or the Gaming Commission. If you cannot find it, do not pay anything until you have asked more questions.

Why a licence matters

In Ghana, different regulators look after different kinds of money business. A licence means the company has been registered with a regulator and is supposed to follow rules. It does not mean the company can never make mistakes, and it is not a promise that you will make a profit. But a company that is not on any register has nobody official watching it, and that is a big risk for your money.

Which regulator covers what

A company can say anything on Instagram or WhatsApp, so always match it to the right regulator. For example, a firm that says it will "grow your money" should be on the SEC list, not just registered as an ordinary business.

How to use the Licence check, step by step

1. Open /licence-check on your phone.
2. Type the company's full name. Try the exact name from their contract, receipt or website, not only the app or nickname.
3. Read the result. TrustCheck shows whether the name matches a bank, lender, investment firm, insurer or betting company on the official registers we hold.
4. Check the details. Does the licence type fit what they are selling you? A lender should be licensed to lend; an investment firm should be licensed to handle investments.
5. If there is no match, try a different spelling once. Then treat it as a warning, not as proof of anything.

Our copies of the official registers are from October 2026. Registers change, so a company licensed or removed after that date may not show yet. For something big, you can also confirm directly with the regulator.

What a "no match" does and does not mean

No match does not by itself mean a company is a scam. It may be using a different registered name, or it may be new. What it does mean is that you cannot confirm it is licensed. Slow down, ask the company for its licence number and the name of the regulator, and do not send money while you wait for answers.

General warning signs of unlicensed schemes

• Guaranteed returns. Real investments carry risk. Anyone promising fixed, fast profit is a red flag.
• Pressure to pay now. "Last slots today" is a pushing tactic.
• Fees before a loan. Being asked to send "processing", "insurance" or "commitment" money first, before you receive any loan, is a common pattern in loan scams.
• Pay to a personal MoMo number. A real company usually has a proper business account and gives a receipt.
• Pay-to-recruit. If you earn mainly by bringing in other people, be very careful.
• Vague answers. No office address, no licence number, no named regulator.
• Only social media. No proper website, or a website that was clearly made last week.
• Asking for your PIN, OTP or password. No real lender or investment firm needs these.

Other checks to do alongside the licence

• Search the company's MoMo number, handle or website at /check to see reports from other people and official warnings.
• Read what customers say on business reviews, if the company has a page.
• Look at Scam Watch for official warnings from regulators and the police.
• Read our guides on spotting fake investment platforms and loan app scams for more patterns.

If you already paid and now doubt it

1. Stop sending more money, even if they say it will "release" what you have paid.
2. Keep screenshots, receipts, numbers and chat messages.
3. Call your bank or MoMo provider quickly and tell them what happened.
4. Report to the Ghana Police Cybercrime Unit, or call the Cyber Security Authority on 292.
5. You can also report it on TrustCheck. A person checks every report before it is published. We cannot promise to recover money, but your report can warn others.

The simple rule

Licence first, money second. It takes a minute on the Licence check, and it can save you a lot of heartache. If you are unsure, ask a trusted person or the regulator before you pay.