Did KVK really send this email?

  • Edited 11 March 2026
  • 1 min
  • Secure business

At the moment, fraudsters are sending many fake emails, letters, and text messages, and making phone calls claiming to be from KVK. This is called phishing. Fraudsters are trying to get your details. Do not click the links in such an email or text message. Find out how to recognise fake messages.

Have you received a fake message from KVK?

Have you received an email, letter, phone call, or text message that you think might be phishing? Please report this to us at valse-email@kvk.nl. Forward the phishing email to us as an attachment (information for Microsoft Outlook).

Together with a partner, we will investigate the phishing mail and have the fake website taken offline. 

This is how you check a message is from KVK

The phishing emails and other fake messages are usually about renewing your identification, blocking your KVK number, or a digital key. The fraudster puts pressure on you to respond fast, threatening to impose a fine or consequences for your KVK registration. Never respond.

Ask Chatbot Charlie if the message you received is fake.  You can open the chatbot by clicking the ‘Contact us’ button.

You can also check this overview of phishing mails that are in circulation. 

 

How to recognise a phishing message

You can often recognise a phishing email by one or more of the following characteristics: fake domain name, impersonal greeting, malicious software in an attachment, saying it is urgent and trying to make you respond quickly, poor use of language, and a malicious link to a webpage.

Email addresses used by KVK

KVK uses the following email addresses:

Scammers can fake email addresses. This is called spoofing. You will then see no difference between the real and fake email address.

What KVK does not send

  • KVK never issues fines or threatens to do so.
  • KVK never threatens by email or text message to withdraw your KVK number or end your Business Register registration.
  • KVK never asks you to check your details by clicking a link in an email or text message.
  • KVK never asks you to report details using a QR code. KVK invoices do have a QR code on them that you can scan.
  • KVK never sends SMS or Whatsapp messages with links.
  • KVK never asks you to request a digital key.
  • KVK never sends invoices for an annual contribution to the Business Register.

Good to know

  • You can only request an access code for a KVK account yourself, on our website. Never via an email or text message. A KVK account is used for ordering KVK products, such as Business Register extracts.
  • You can always check your details and report changes in the Business Register via My KVK.

Frequently asked questions

Phishing is a type of digital fraud. The criminals try to steal login data, credit card information, pin codes, or other personal information. Phishing is often done by email, but phone calls, letters, WhatsApp messages, and text messages are also used. Learn more in the article Watch out for phishing.

The fake messages are often about re-identification, mandatory UBO registration, VAT refunds, or a digital key. On the Fraud Helpdesk website, you can find a list of phishing emails pretending to be from KVK (in Dutch) that have been reported to them. Please note: this list is not complete, because it is impossible to keep up with all phishing mails.

In our experience, fraudsters will call you. They will pretend to be from a well-known organisation, such as your bank. They will tell you that there is a problem with your bank account and ask you to download an application, click on a link, or transfer money. Do not respond to this and end the call.

Are you unsure whether it is actually the bank? Hang up and call the bank yourself. Look up the telephone number on the bank's website. Do not call back using the number that called you.

Check if your invoice is real. Read more about fake invoices.

Not sure about an email? Forward it to valse-email@kvk.nl.

Yes, that can be correct. We may do that via the email addresses kvk@marketresponse.nl, kvk@miles-research.com, and @email.kvk.nl.

To help you in the best possible way, KVK continuously improves its products and services. Your input is very important for this. That is why we may ask you to take part in a customer survey. KVK collaborates with research agencies Miles Research and MarketResponse. We only share personal data with these service providers that are necessary for a particular assignment. We make proper agreements about what they are allowed to do with that personal data and for how long they can keep personal data.

If businesses sell extracts, they must state on their website that they are intermediaries and do not act on behalf of KVK. Extracts from these businesses are usually more expensive than ordering directly from KVK.

We recommend that you always order extracts from the official KVK website.