A buyer has expressed interest in my product and has had his bank sent back a stamped, signed copy of the pro-forma I sent him.  However, the bank is asking for a copy of my company's certificate of incorporation before they can proceed with T/T.  Is this a regular procedure?  The bank rep also informed me that it would take another two to three days after receiving copy of certificate to complete T/T.


I cannot seem to verify the bank, as it does not have an official website and I cannot reach the chamber of commerce at the numbers listed.  This is a West African country and I am aware that  there are many scams that come out of West Africa.  They have not ask me for money, they have only expressed interest as a distributor interested in purchasing my product for distribution in their country.   Its just that it would be such a waste of my precious time if this turned out to be a scam.


Can someone direct me to the proper channels to verify a company and bank in Lome, Togo?

Quoting from [Life]:

 

For the Bank Confirmation, you should ask your homebank, they are the specialists !

For the rest I would say, it is a old trying from West Africa, to get first the Proforma inv., to have the company Letterhead and later require for the company registration to have the correct and full details from your company.

Together both could be used to fake an invitation letter and with this letter they apply for a Visa to your country. This Visa to an individual is more worth than a handfull of Dollars !

Wilhelm

I see.

Usually west africa and (recently canada) company/people use personal/company offers for their scamms (most from their own banks).


Many years I even received a check issued by american bank whick has been sent by a nigerean but I ignored it and then I found it was a banned account!

Hi!


I guess you should just  require your costumer  to have their payment  or  the LC (letter of Credit)  should be from a reputable bank (paying the bank to issue the LC) from a government owned perhaps that you can verify from within your country.


There are banks that are owned by a Country or a State, on our part in the Philippines we Philippine National Bank and these is a state  owned  banks, It would be difficult include these intitutions to any fraud because of their reputations.



ral arriola

Philippines













Quoting from [Life]:


A buyer has expressed interest in my product and has had his bank sent back a stamped, signed copy of the pro-forma I sent him. However, the bank is asking for a copy of my company's certificate of incorporation before they can proceed with T/T. Is this a regular procedure? The bank rep also informed me that it would take another two to three days after receiving copy of certificate to complete T/T.



I cannot seem to verify the bank, as it does not have an official website and I cannot reach the chamber of commerce at the numbers listed. This is a West African country and I am aware that there are many scams that come out of West Africa. They have not ask me for money, they have only expressed interest as a distributor interested in purchasing my product for distribution in their country. Its just that it would be such a waste of my precious time if this turned out to be a scam.



Can someone direct me to the proper channels to verify a company and bank in Lome, Togo?

Thank you.


It is quite alarming to what extent these persons will go.  The prospective buyer in Benin says his bank needs NAFDAC Certification of my product before they can release any payment on order.  A deposit was requested and they informed me that they  will pay 100%  T/T.  Sounds too good to be true.   The buyer  has supposedly gone ahead and pay $1500 to and an attorney to acquire NAFDAC Certification, however I will have to pay the balance to the lawyer upon approval of cerification which is $1000.  I have wasted so much time  thinking I  was dealing with a reputable business.


Will they stop at nothing?

A company from Togo directly ask for a letter of invitation to come to Italy and visit our company. They didn't ask for prices, neither for exact products. they generally told they are interested in tiles.

They also send me details of passport and name of the "manager" coming here.

I don't think it would be a great idea to send an invitation letter to this company. They neither gave me a website!

Do you agree?

Thanks... 

I would definitely agree.

Quoting from [Life]:

A buyer has expressed interest in my product and has had his bank sent back a stamped, signed copy of the pro-forma I sent him.  However, the bank is asking for a copy of my company's certificate of incorporation before they can proceed with T/T.  Is this a regular procedure?  The bank rep also informed me that it would take another two to three days after receiving copy of certificate to complete T/T.


I cannot seem to verify the bank, as it does not have an official website and I cannot reach the chamber of commerce at the numbers listed.  This is a West African country and I am aware that  there are many scams that come out of West Africa.  They have not ask me for money, they have only expressed interest as a distributor interested in purchasing my product for distribution in their country.   Its just that it would be such a waste of my precious time if this turned out to be a scam.


Can someone direct me to the proper channels to verify a company and bank in Lome, Togo?

Quoting from [Life]:


A buyer has expressed interest in my product and has had his bank sent back a stamped, signed copy of the pro-forma I sent him.  However, the bank is asking for a copy of my company's certificate of incorporation before they can proceed with T/T.  Is this a regular procedure?  The bank rep also informed me that it would take another two to three days after receiving copy of certificate to complete T/T.



I cannot seem to verify the bank, as it does not have an official website and I cannot reach the chamber of commerce at the numbers listed.  This is a West African country and I am aware that  there are many scams that come out of West Africa.  They have not ask me for money, they have only expressed interest as a distributor interested in purchasing my product for distribution in their country.   Its just that it would be such a waste of my precious time if this turned out to be a scam.



Can someone direct me to the proper channels to verify a company and bank in Lome, Togo?