Capture the exact claim
Save the company page, advertisement or profile showing the credential claim and record the date.
Identify the issuer
Determine whether the claim refers to CSIA, NFI, F.I.R.E., another certification, membership, course completion or manufacturer training.
Verify the individual
Where the issuer provides a public directory, search the named credential holder. Company-level marketing should not be treated as proof that every technician is credentialed.
Account for incomplete information
Names change, directories can lag and some training is not publicly searchable. Record “not found” as a verification result, not a fraud verdict.
Escalate carefully
A supportable case distinguishes the original claim, the verification method, the result and any response from the credentialing body.
Evidence standard: Preserve what you observed, identify the source, distinguish inference from fact, and use current official Google policy when preparing a complaint.