VerifyNow01
Confirm the process
Ask the estate agent or conveyancer what FICA and payment-instruction process they follow, then keep all written instructions in one file.
Property
Property buyer checks before money moves
Use VerifyNow to check sellers, agents, company sellers, directors and bank account details before a deposit, reservation fee or changed payment instruction is trusted. You get clear reports that help you spot identity, company and payout-account risk before the transaction becomes expensive to unwind.
Property Buyers
Property buyers checking sellers, agents, companies and payment accounts.
DepositsSeller checksSafety
Workflow
Know who you are paying before the property deal moves
02
Verify the person
Where you have a lawful basis, verify the identity of the seller, representative or person giving payment instructions.
03
Check the company
For a company seller, developer or agency, verify the company registration and director context before relying on the counterparty.
04
Verify the account
Use bank account verification before paying a deposit, refund, reservation fee or any changed account instruction.
Risk signals
When to add AML/PEP
AML/PEP and sanctions screening is most useful when your risk policy, accountable-institution duties or professional advisor requires enhanced due diligence.
Urgent request to pay into a changed or personal bank account.
Seller, agent or developer details do not match the documents provided.
Company seller has unclear director or registration details.
Payment instructions arrive from a new email address or phone number.
The transaction involves remote parties, trusts, nominees or third parties.
Your conveyancer or advisor recommends enhanced due diligence.
Checks to run
FICA workflow checklist for Property Buyers
Use this path when you are a buyer who wants extra confidence that the seller, agent, company seller or bank account is legitimate.
Compliance note
Buyers are not always the accountable institution, but they still benefit from a clear due-diligence checklist before money moves.
Practical onboarding sequence
- 1Ask the estate agent or conveyancer what FICA process they will follow for the transaction.
- 2Verify the identity of the person you are dealing with when you have a lawful basis to do so.
- 3For a company seller or developer, verify the company and director context.
- 4Verify payment account details before paying a deposit or reservation fee.
- 5Use AML/PEP screening for higher-risk transactions or when your advisor recommends it.
- 6Keep your verification receipts, correspondence and payment instructions together.
Toolkit links
Open FICA ToolkitUse the guided toolkit to decide which FICA, POPIA, CDD and RMCP resources apply.
CDD checklistTrack customer due diligence steps before onboarding or continuing with a customer.
RMCP generatorBuild a starting Risk Management and Compliance Programme where one is required.
KYC workflowMap the legal requirement to a practical onboarding workflow.
SA ID Verification
Validates the ID number and core identity fields so you can confirm the person exists before a lower-risk interaction.
Run checkHome Affairs ID + Photo
Checks a South African ID number against Home Affairs and returns the official identity details and photo where available for your CDD file.
Run checkBank Account Verification
Checks the bank account details against bank-held data to confirm whether the account is open, valid and linked to the person or company provided.
Run checkCIPC Company Match
Looks up the company against CIPC records so you can confirm registration details before dealing with a business counterparty.
Run checkCIPC Director Search
Returns director and linked company context from CIPC records, helping you verify who is behind a company party or mandate.
Run checkAML/PEP/Sanctions
Searches sanctions, PEP, watchlist and adverse-risk sources so your team can review higher-risk people, directors and counterparties.
Run checkEducational guidance only. Your accountable-institution status, RMCP, customer risk rating and lawful basis determine the final checks and records you must keep.
FAQ
Questions, answered
Is a property buyer personally responsible for FICA compliance?+
Usually the estate agent, conveyancer or other accountable institution runs the formal FICA process. A buyer can still run lawful due-diligence checks to reduce fraud risk before paying deposits or accepting changed payment instructions.
What should I verify before paying a property deposit?+
Confirm who you are dealing with, check the company and director context where the seller is a company or developer, and verify the receiving bank account before money moves. Also confirm the official payment process with your estate agent or conveyancer.
When is AML/PEP screening useful for buyers?+
AML/PEP/Sanctions screening is useful where a professional advisor recommends it, where the transaction is high value, where parties are cross-border or politically exposed, or where a company, trust or unusual funding structure increases risk.
Can VerifyNow confirm that a property itself is safe to buy?+
No. VerifyNow checks identity, company, director, bank-account and risk-screening evidence. Buyers should still use a conveyancer and normal property-specific checks for title, transfer, bond and municipal matters.
Build a cleaner property file
Use the toolkit, run the right checks, and keep a clear report trail before the next signature or payment.