Imagine believing you have negotiated with a supplier in China only to later discover it was a scam. In our 20 years in international trade, countless business owners have come to our offices to share their bad experience when they tried to find manufacturers on their own.
These are entrepreneurs who, after investing time planning their import to increase profitability, had to accept that the supposed manufacturer had disappeared along with their money. This is just one of the types of fraud you may be exposed to when starting your search.
Supplier verification is therefore an indispensable step in any import to carry out a safe operation, whether you are an experienced importer or someone making their first purchases in China. There is no other way to protect yourself from fraud.
It is essential to make sure the manufacturers you negotiate with are real and reliable. To do so, you must check:
- Bank accounts
- Company address
- Authentic certificates
- Registration in commercial registers
- Export licenses
- Business licenses
- Declared share capital
A Chinese supplier should have export references and supporting documents proving that their products have been exported and accepted in other countries and markets. The manufacturer must also be legally established and have a good reputation both in China and abroad.
Contact details
Have you confirmed that the address and phone numbers provided are real? You need to verify that the supplier's contact data is consistent.
Company data
You must check identification in registers, ownership structure, capital and solvency.
Legal registration and website numbers
Most websites hosted in China should have an ICP number under the name of the company that registered the page; this name must match the supplier sending you a quotation.
References
Ask for references from other clients with whom they have already worked and, if possible, contact them.
Factory visit
The most effective way to confirm a supplier is reliable is to visit the factory in person. If you cannot travel, MingTa Group can carry out the visit on your behalf and verify production capacity, quality and legal standing.
If you have doubts about a Chinese supplier or want to start importing safely, contact us. Our team in China will help you identify reliable manufacturers and avoid scams.