Check the sender
A debt collection notice, reminder, warning letter or investment offer? Check in official registers whether the sender even exists or is registered. A genuine debt collection agency, for example, must be listed. If the entry is missing, that is a strong warning sign.
The other way round: a hit only proves that the company or law firm exists, not that the letter came from them. Criminals use the names of real law firms and companies. If in doubt, ask them, using the contact details from the register, never the ones from the letter.
Company / type of letter
Rechtsdienstleistungsregister (register of legal services)
official web searchIs the sender registered as a debt collection service provider?
A genuine debt collection agency MUST be listed here. Search for the company name. NO result = it is not allowed to collect debts at all (a strong warning sign).
Debt collection service providers / registered legal-service providers · State justice administrations (Landesjustizverwaltungen)
Open the registerCommercial/company register (Handels-/Unternehmensregister)
searchable onlineDoes the company even exist, and at this address?
Search for the company name + location. No entry, a different address or a very fresh incorporation = be careful.
Existence & key data of companies (GmbH, UG, AG, ...) · Bundesanzeiger Verlag / state justice
Open the registerFederal official lawyer directory (Anwaltsverzeichnis)
official web searchDoes the law firm exist, and did the letter really come from them?
Search for the name of the law firm or lawyer. Not listed = very suspicious. BUT: a hit only proves that the firm exists, NOT that it sent this letter, criminals misuse the names of real law firms. So compare the phone number, email domain, address and bank details in the letter with the register entry and the legal notice on the firm's website. If in doubt ask them, using the number from the register, NEVER the one from the letter. NEVER sign an enclosed cease-and-desist declaration without checking it.
Existence of lawyers/law firms (for example with warning letters or payment demands) · Federal Bar Association (Bundesrechtsanwaltskammer, BRAK)
Open the registerBaFin company database & warnings
searchable onlineDoes the provider have a financial license, or is it on a warning list?
Search for the provider in the BaFin company database AND check the BaFin warnings.
Authorization of financial/investment/credit providers + warning lists · Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht)
Open the registerWe link the official search, you enter the query there yourself (data protection). Tip: also use our scam check if a message seems suspicious to you. If a website is named in the letter, the domain check shows how long it has existed.