Case Description:

"I didn't receive the products. The supplier said the goods were detained in the Customs Office because Customs didn't find the original invoice attached to the goods. The supplier explained that it's his company's policy was to issue original invoices only when quantities are above 5 units. He told me to pay for another 2 units for another $150 USD, but I have refused. I paid by Western Union. He registered on your website as a US company, but actually it is a Chinese Company. All his information is fraudulent. His is a fraudulent company!"

Analysis of this case:
 
1. It is a sign of potential fraud if the seller requests you to send payment to another country instead of his registered country showed on the website. E.g., the company claims to be a UK company and requests you to send payment to Nigeria, or other African countries.

2. If you think their price is very attractive and want to deal with them, it is very necessary for you to verify that they are legitimate company and their contact information is correct. In this case, the fraudster is pretending to be a US company, but all his registered information is false. This can be judged easily by calling his company telephone number or by searching the company name on related state government websites.

3. The fraudulent company will always find some excuses, such as their products are detained by Customs Office for some reasons, and ask buyer add more payment to release the products. Be cautious and make your own decision when your seller tells you such things.

4. Western Union is a dangerous payment method, it can be picked up anywhere in the recipient's country, with no way of tracing the person who picked it up. The criminal remains anonymous. So it is a commonly used payment method for con-artists. So try to avoid adopting this payment method and consider other more secure payment methods like escrow.

Click to see other Fraud Case Studies:

Fraud Case Study 1 - Gold Supplier Identity Theft
Fraud Case Study 2 - the "Low Price" trap
Fraud Case Study 4 - Meeting your supplier for the first time
Fraud Case Study 5 - The Contract trap
Fraud Case Study 6 - False Shipping Website
Fraud Case Study 7 - Remain Vigilant!