How to avoid import fraud

The biggest fear a first-time importer has is that of being the victim of a scam, and it is a well-founded fear. Buying from a supplier we cannot visit (e.g. in China) through a company we only know from the internet is not something we can trust.

Even the very portal Alibaba itself hosts, much to its regret, hundreds of fraudulent companies based in China. That is why we must keep our eyes open when looking for reliable suppliers and export companies.
import fraud
Here are some useful tips to avoid fraud:
1. Always be suspicious if you are not offered a secure payment method, such as Paypal. Most of the frauds I have witnessed used Western Union as a payment gateway.
2. Beware of strange translations. If the emails sent to you appear to be translated with Google Translator, it is a sign that you may be dealing with a fraudulent company.
3. Put yourself in the hands of professionals. If you can’t be sure if a supplier is safe, hire a company with the ability to visit the supplier and find out if everything is in order.
4. Search for references on the Internet. It is complicated for suppliers in China, but not for the intermediary companies mentioned in point 3.
Do not rely exclusively on the website of the company in question. Always search Google and social media to find reviews from former customers. If we are unable to find such customers, the company should provide us with convincing references to consult.
5. Never pay a supplier in advance by bank transfer or similar.
An intermediary company is likely to charge an advance payment (or deposit). This is to ensure that the customer is not going to ask for a research of suppliers and then not import anything, which would be an expense. In any case, to avoid fraud, you should require that this deposit is made by secure payment (e.g. Paypal).
If you still have any doubts, don’t hesitate to ask by leaving a comment on the post. Have any of you been victims of a scam?
If you want to import from China, do not hesitate to contact us without obligation.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top