How to check a Spanish company exists before paying it (and avoid scams)
Five quick checks, mostly free, to verify a Spanish company before making a payment, signing a contract or shipping goods.
IberiaData editorial team · 19 October 2026 · 2 min read
A transfer to a company that doesn't exist won't come back. Scams with fake suppliers, fake rental companies or fake buyers are increasingly elaborate: nice websites, invoices with logos and very professional manners. A few minutes of checks can save a lot of money.
1. Ask for the tax ID and check the format
A Spanish company has a NIF starting with a letter (A for SA, B for SL…), seven digits and a check character. For intra-EU trade, its VAT number is ES plus that NIF. If they won't give it, that's a bad sign.
2. Look it up in the BORME and VIES
The BORME is free and publishes incorporations, appointments and changes. Check that it exists and since when, who runs it and that it isn't in liquidation or insolvency. The EU's VIES service confirms whether the VAT number is valid. For an official document, request a nota simple from the Registro Mercantil.
3. Check the contact is really theirs
A classic scam: the website belongs to a real company, but the phone or email belong to the fraudsters. Look the company up by tax ID in an independent directory and compare the contact with the one you were given.
4. Call them yourself
Don't call the number in the email you received. Call a number obtained independently and ask about the transaction. If the real company knows nothing, you have your answer.
5. Check the bank account
The account holder must be the company itself. An account in a private individual's or another company's name is reason to stop everything.
Red flags
- Pressure to pay, or discounts that expire "today".
- Only a free email and no physical address.
- Bank account changes requested by email.
- Prices far below market.
If you've already paid, contact your bank immediately to try to stop the transfer and report it to the police. The sooner you act, the better your chances.
Frequently asked questions
How do I verify a Spanish company for free?+
Search its name or tax ID in the BORME, which publishes registered acts. For an official report, request a nota simple from the Companies Register for a small fee. For EU VAT numbers, use VIES.
What are the warning signs of a scam?+
Refusing to give a tax ID, only a free email address and no physical address, pressure to pay quickly, or a bank account in someone else's name.
Written and reviewed by the IberiaData editorial team. Last updated: 19 October 2026. If you spot anything out of date, let us know.
