How to spot a fake supplier: red flags before you pay

Warning signs of a fake supplier

• The price is far below every other supplier for the same product.
• They push you to pay quickly, or say the discount ends today.
• They only accept payment to a personal account, or to a name that does not match the company.
• They refuse a video call, or will not show their workshop or warehouse.
• They will not send a sample, or the sample costs far more than it should.
• They move the chat away from the platform to a private app very early.

Checks to do before you order

1. 1

   Ask for the business registration

   Check that the company name matches the name on the invoice and on the bank account you would pay. A mismatch is the biggest red flag.

2. 2

   Ask for a live video call

   Ask them to show the product and the place where it is made, in real time. Real factories and traders are used to this.

3. 3

   Read the history, not just the stars

   On a platform, look at years in operation and transaction history. A new account with perfect reviews deserves extra care.

4. 4

   Order a sample first

   Even if it costs a little, a sample tells you about the product and about how the supplier behaves.

Protect the first order

• Start with a small order, then grow it once the supplier has delivered well.
• Use the payment protection that the platform offers, and keep the whole conversation on the platform.
• Avoid paying the full amount upfront on a large first order.
• Keep every message, invoice and photo. You will need them if something goes wrong.

The most common pattern is simple: a supplier quotes an attractive price, asks for a bank transfer outside the platform to start production, and then goes quiet. Keeping payment inside the platform removes the easiest way to steal from you.

Frequently asked questions