Before rolling your superannuation to a new fund — or providing any personal details to a super fund — verify it is a legitimate, APRA-regulated entity. This takes 2 minutes and can prevent significant financial harm.
Step 1 — Check the APRA Register of Regulated Entities
APRA (Australian Prudential Regulation Authority) regulates all superannuation funds that are not self managed. Every legitimate super fund must be registered with APRA.
How to check:
- Go to apra.gov.au/register-of-regulated-entities
- Select “Superannuation” from the entity type dropdown
- Search by fund name or ABN
- A legitimate fund will appear with its ABN, registration status, and trustee details
If the fund is not on the APRA register, it is not a legitimate regulated super fund.
Step 2 — Check the ABN
Every super fund trustee must have an ABN. The fund’s ABN should be on all official communications, PDSs, and rollover forms.
How to verify the ABN:
- Go to abr.business.gov.au
- Enter the ABN
- Check that the entity type matches (“Superannuation Fund” or similar) and the GST and ABN status is “Active”
Be cautious if the ABN is recently registered — fraudulent funds sometimes register fresh ABNs.
Step 3 — Use ATO’s Find My Super
The ATO maintains a list of all complying super funds via the Superannuation Fund Lookup (SFLU):
- Go to superfundlookup.gov.au
- Search by fund name or ABN
- A complying fund will show its status and USI (Unique Superannuation Identifier)
The SFLU is also used by employers to verify employee fund details.
Step 4 — Check for an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL)
If someone is advising you to roll over your super to a particular fund, they must hold an AFSL (if they are providing personal financial advice). Verify on ASIC’s register:
- Go to asic.gov.au → Professional registers → Financial Advisers Register
- Search by name or company
- Confirm the adviser’s AFSL is current and not suspended
Red Flags That a Fund May Not Be Legitimate
| Red flag | What it suggests |
|---|---|
| Not found on APRA register or superfundlookup.gov.au | Likely fraudulent or unregistered |
| ABN recently registered (last 6–12 months) | Possible shell entity |
| Promises guaranteed returns above 8–10% | Not credible; possibly fraudulent |
| No Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) available | Regulatory non-compliance |
| Pressure to roll over quickly | Urgency is a manipulation tactic |
| Contact was unsolicited (cold call, social media) | High risk of scam |
| No physical address or only a PO box | Possible fraudulent operation |
What to Do If You Can’t Verify a Fund
- Do not roll over until you have verified the fund
- Call the ATO on 13 10 20 and ask them to confirm the fund’s registration status
- Ask the fund to provide their RSE (Registrable Superannuation Entity) licence number — then check on the APRA register
- Report your concern to ASIC at asic.gov.au/report-misconduct
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a legitimate fund listed on APRA and superfundlookup.gov.au? Yes — all complying APRA-regulated funds should appear on both. SMSFs are not on the APRA register (they are self-regulated) but should appear on the ATO’s SMSF verification service if they are legitimate.
How do I verify an SMSF is legitimate before rolling over to it? For rollovers into SMSFs, the ATO provides a SMSF verification tool. Your current fund’s member services team can also assist in verifying whether the SMSF is registered before processing a rollover.
The fund I’m rolling to says they don’t have an ABN yet. Is that normal? No — a legitimate super fund must have an ABN before accepting rollovers. This is a serious red flag.
For more: Super Scams, How to Check an APRA-Regulated Fund, How to Report a Super Scam. For advice on your situation, speak with a licensed financial adviser via MoneySmart.