Hi guys,

In order to do business in Europe you have to have a valid VAT number. This VAT ID is given to all Eurpean companies. Without this Vat ID you are not allowed to do any business in Europe.

If you do busioness with a mobile phone wholesales company in i.e. the UK ask him for a quotation and his VAT ID. take the VAT-ID and check it over here if its valid or not. If not, dont do business with the company. Sice most scammers in the UK are from Nigeria and so, they do not know the syntax of such number.

http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/en/vieshome.htm
http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/en/faqvies.htm#item11

Replying to [detronic]:

Hallo Dieter,

I think this is not so good for checking the VAT ID, to confirm a company is legit or not.
If you check this number DE 812639372, you only see it is valid, no info about the company.
Everybody can take a number even from a supermarkt bill and it shows you, yes this number is valid.And so a scammer will do !!

rgds
Wilhelm

Replying to [wilhelm]: Hello Wilhelm,
That why I have said, most of the scammers are not located in the UK and they do not now the algorithms of the numbers, becaise they are to dumb. But at least it is one other tool to check (due dillingance)

I copied this to the Ways to Identify Scammers topic, I hope you don't mind.

http://resources.alibaba.com/topic/7855/Ways_to_Identify_Scammers/4.htm

Replying to [FraudWatchersDotOrg]: cool its ok

Replying to [detronic]:

certainly could be a first step to see if at least they have a valid VAT -
then there are so many more things to check - phone numbers - fax numbers - addresses - etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc....

Replying to [watchdog]:
I know you said most scammers are from nigeria and they are to dumb, which is not true, i believe some of them lack alot of commen sense, but on the other hand some have alot of experience. But you said they are to dumb to know what a vat number is, but now havent we just posted for all of them to read, and find out what it is???

I just asked yet another UK supplier for their VAT #, they said they cannot give out that personal information, I just laughed and blocked them from trademanager

Replying to [detronic]:Thank you for info

Replying to [detronic]: Sorry but i must point out that in the U.K
you do not require a V.A.T. number unless you have gone over a certain T/O (turn-over) threshold which i think stands at about
£50,000(not sure) until this time you do not have to have one

Replying to [detronic]:
With the tax number check is good also to check the Chamber of Comers per country.
In 99 % of the EU countries the company MUST have a registration in the Chamber of comers.
In some of the sites you can go inside the registers free and check for address registration ,and registration number. Together with the tax ( VAT,BTW) number is enough for a start.

BUT don’t give as well 100 % guarantees.
Registering a company in Holland, special “one man company” for example is quiet easy and actually really fast. Cost really little and actually you get your registration number in the Chamber of Comers. If you register in the blank Export- Import ,you can make your application for BTW number as well and you will have it after a 2- 3 weeks.

SO ,main point is IF possible visit the company, meet the people ,AND don’t look for big buildings and shinning offices-it is not a guarantee for nothing. And Second :
Talk with the Chamber of Comers, before the trip to find out how old is the registration it self . They probably will not provide a information like this on the phone BUT probably will support you ( after when you explain the situation) to give you a clear indication and confirm are the company exists from “more then a week”. Combination of this two things I think is the best solution.