Names get copied
A business can use a real company's name, logo or photos. Matching a name is not proof of who is behind it.
Before you send money
Know who you are paying before you pay.
Scammers copy real business names, fake payment links and urgent stories. RIVA checks the seller, the payment request and the listing link, then shows every warning sign with its source and date.
Checks are signs to look into, not a verdict on whether a business is honest.
Most payment scams follow the same path
The details change, but the order is often the same. Each step is a point where you can stop and check.
Seeing one step is a reason to look closer. Seeing two or three together is a reason to stop.
Why check first?
Money sent is hard to get back. Most payment scams work because the victim is rushed, or because the name looks real. A few minutes of checking can stop that.
Pressure is a signal
"Pay in the next hour" and "this offer ends today" are often used to stop you from checking.
Payment method matters
Gift cards, crypto and direct transfers to a personal account are hard to reverse. Ask why they are the only option.
How to track a business before you pay
Tracking means confirming who you are dealing with, from more than one place, before any money moves. These six steps take a few minutes.
-
1
Confirm the exact name
Copy the name from the seller's own page, not from a message. Look for small differences, such as an extra word or a changed letter.
-
2
Check the registration
For a registered Nigerian company, search the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) register. Check that the name and the people named match what you were told.
-
3
Match the account name
Before you send money, check that the bank account name matches the business name. A personal name on a "company" payment is a warning sign.
-
4
Search for complaints
Search the business name with words like "scam", "complaints" or "fraud". Read what people say and when they said it. RIVA does this for you on Pro and Premium.
-
5
Check the link and the address
Type the website yourself rather than clicking a link in a chat. Watch for lookalike spellings and pages that ask you to log in again.
-
6
See the item first
Ask for proof: the item, the property, a live video, or a meeting in a safe public place. A real seller can usually show something before you pay.
Search what the seller gave you
Paste the name, the payment details and the link. RIVA runs the rule checks, then searches the public web for the name and shows every page it found, with its link.
- Free: rule checks and one basic web search.
- Pro and Premium: deeper searches with more complaint-focused queries.
- Every page RIVA found is listed, so you can open it yourself.
Scam patterns we look for
These patterns show up in many payment scams. One sign does not prove a scam, but several together are a reason to stop and check.
Fee before the item
"Pay a delivery, clearance or insurance fee first, and we will send it." Real sellers rarely need this.
Gift cards or crypto only
A request to pay in gift cards, crypto or a transfer to a personal account with no other option.
Rushed decisions
Deadlines, threats of losing the deal, or requests to keep the sale secret from family or the platform.
Move off the platform
"Let's continue on WhatsApp and skip the app." Leaving the platform removes the record and the protection.
Guaranteed returns
Promises of high, certain profit with little risk, often with a "bonus" for bringing in others.
Lookalike links
Website names that are almost right, odd spellings, or links that ask you to log in again on arrival.
Fake job or agent offers
A job, visa or rental "agent" who asks you to pay a registration, training or processing fee before anything starts.
Requests for codes
Anyone who asks for your OTP, PIN, card PIN or BVN is trying to take control of your money. Real banks and sellers do not ask for these.
A report you can check yourself
RIVA does not ask you to trust a score. Each line points to what was found, where, and when.
- The exact warning sign and why it matters.
- The source link, or the rule that fired.
- The date the source was checked.
- What RIVA could not check, so nothing is hidden.
How a check works
Three steps. Every result says where it came from.
-
1
Paste what the seller gave you
The business name, the payment details, the listing link, the offer and the chat text. Only paste what you are comfortable sharing.
-
2
RIVA runs the rule checks
Rules look at payment requests, chat pressure, offers and links. Pro and Premium also run deeper public web searches for the name.
-
3
Read the report
Each warning sign shows the exact text or source behind it, with its date. Anything RIVA could not check is listed, so you know what is still open.
Run a business? Register with RIVA. It is free.
Register your business so buyers can check it. RIVA reviews each request by hand, and a business is shown as verified only after approval.
- Your business is reviewed by hand before any verified status appears.
- Once approved, buyers who search your business name see your verified details next to their results.
- Listing is optional. You choose whether your business is shown publicly.
Sign in first. Registration is free on every plan.
Pay in a way you can undo
Where you pay matters as much as who you pay. Choose the method that gives you a way back if something goes wrong.
- Use a bank transfer or card with a dispute option where you can.
- Pay only after you have seen the item or proof, not before.
- Keep the chat, the offer, the receipt and the account name.
- Be careful with gift cards, crypto and transfers to a personal account.
Before you pay anyone, do these seven things
These boxes are only a reminder. Nothing is saved.
Plans
Start free. Upgrade only if you need deeper checks.
Free
$0
5 checks a month, each with a web search. Sign in to start.
Pro
$4 per month
100 checks a month and a two-part web search.
Premium
$10 per month
300 checks a month and the deepest web search.
Compare plans and renewal terms
Register your business. It is free.
Any business can register with RIVA at no cost, on every plan. Registration is reviewed by hand before anything is shown.
- Found by name. Once approved and listed, buyers who check your business name see your registered details next to their results: name, registration number, website and the date it was verified.
- Account check. If a seller gives a bank account in your name that doesn't match your registered account name, RIVA flags it before anyone pays.
- You choose what is public. Listing is optional. You can switch it off at any time from your account page.
Coming soon: a verified badge next to your listing, a count of how many times your listing was checked (no names), and a shareable trust page for your customers.
Register your businessWhat RIVA does not do
Being clear about limits is part of being useful.
RIVA does
- Show warning signs in your text, with the rule or source behind each one.
- Search public web pages through a licensed search service.
- List what it could not check.
RIVA does not
- Declare a business a scam or honest.
- Move, hold or guarantee any payment.
- Replace your bank, the platform or the police if you have been defrauded.
Questions
Does RIVA say whether a business is a scam?
No. RIVA lists warning signs and what it could not check. The decision is yours. A report with no warning signs is not a guarantee.
Do I need an account?
Yes. You sign in to run a check, so your checks can be saved to your history.
What if I have already paid?
Contact your bank or payment provider quickly and ask about a dispute. Keep every message and receipt. RIVA cannot reverse a payment.
Is my information kept?
Read the privacy page for what is stored and why. Paste only what you are comfortable sharing.
Can I cancel a paid plan?
Yes. Renewals are automatic only after you agree to them, and you can cancel from your account.
Why do the results link to other websites?
So you can read the source yourself. A link is shown as found by the search. It is not an endorsement of that page.
About RIVA
RIVA is a risk check for people paying a seller or business they have not met. It uses published rules, so you can see how each result was reached.
Questions and business enquiries: [email protected]