The SC Investment Checker is a free search tool run by the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC). It shows whether a company or person is authorised by the SC to offer, promote or sell capital market products and services in Malaysia. SmartChecker is an independent site and is not part of the SC. This guide explains how to use the SC’s tool, and what to check alongside it.
Step 1: Open the official page
Type sc.com.my/investment-checker into your browser yourself. Do not use a “verification” link that a company or agent sends you, because copycat pages exist.
Step 2: Search by name
Type the company or person’s name into the search box and press Enter. Use the legal name if you have it, for example the full company name ending in “Berhad” or “Sdn. Bhd.”, not just a brand or app name. If you get no results, try a shorter part of the name.
Step 3: Use Advanced Search for a precise match
Click “Advanced Search” under the search box. Choose “Individual” to check a person, such as a licensed representative (remisier or dealer’s representative), or “Entity” to check a company. For a company you can also enter its company registration number, which avoids mix-ups between firms with similar names.
Tick “Include inactive records” if you want to see licences that have lapsed or been withdrawn. This helps when a company says it “used to be” licensed.
Step 4: Read the results
A green banner says the individual or entity below is licensed or registered with the SC. Each result card shows the SC licence number with a status tag such as “Valid”, the company registration number, and the regulated activities the licence covers, such as dealing in securities, dealing in derivatives, fund management or investment advice. Click “Show more details” for the full record.
Check that the regulated activity matches what you are being offered. A licence for fund management does not cover dealing in derivatives, for example.
Step 5: Check the “Unauthorised” group
On the left, the results can be filtered into groups such as Entity, Registered Person and Unauthorised. Entries in the red “Unauthorised” group come from the SC Investor Alert List. The SC advises the public not to deal with anyone listed there.
What the SC Investment Checker does not show
It only covers the SC’s own records. A company licensed by Labuan FSA, for example, is checked on Labuan FSA’s lists instead, and its business restriction notice is published by Labuan FSA. The SC tool also does not show customer reviews.
SmartChecker puts these pieces in one place for each company it lists: the SC and Labuan FSA records it holds, with the date checked and a link to the source, plus reviews from people who have used the company. Always confirm on the regulator’s own website before you deposit money.
Common questions
Is the SC Investment Checker free? Yes. It is a free public tool on the SC’s website.
The company is not in the results. What does that mean? It may be listed under a different legal name, licensed by another regulator such as Labuan FSA, or not authorised at all. Ask the company for its legal name and licence number in writing and search again.
Who do I contact if I am unsure? The SC on 03-6204 8999 or aduan@seccom.com.my.