Quoting from [Angel Falls]:
Hello,
First of all thanks for all your articles, they really are helpfull...
I`m not a supplier, I`m a Buyer and I have been scam, but that is not the problem becouase i made a complaint on my embassy and they filed the report and catch the scammer...My question is very simple, yet complicated, are they some real good supplier for electronics and mobile phones in Alibaba or are they all Scammers? At least for my search in mobile phones from China, USA, Finland and UK I made my research in the first 2 pages of every country mentioned before, talked to them, and all of them have the SCAM written all over... So, in your experience do you know any good Mobile Phones Supplier?
Best Regards...
Provided you thoroughly examine the credentials of the company you are dealing with, you should not be involved in a scam. The authorities in many countries - including the UK, USA and many EU countries - are actually quite good at helping international buyers make purcahses from these countries safely.
In the UK for example, you can check a company's registration number against the government database. You can speak with the chamber of commerce, who will tell you about the comapny. You can also pay a fee to an agency who will check the company out for you.
Also, have a look at the website and investigate the comapny for yourself. Ask for samples of the product, get as much information as possible and make a visit if you are buying very large quantities of material. Your embassy in each country might be able to assist you.
Asking questions is the best technique - a real company will be happy to help you, answering all questions, sending samples, providing references from government agencies. A scammer will make excuses, dodge questions, try and distract you with some 'brilliant' product or reason why you should buy from them... an honest man has nothing to hide.
The next step is to start small - purcahse only the MOQ for the first deal, and don't give any of your bank details to the seller. After a few sales of the MOQ, you can think about stepping up the quantity gradually. For very large sales, you must insist on meeting a representitive of the company, AND go visit the factory. If you do visit, you're not just there to have a walk about and a chat - inspect the place properly, and if visiting a different country, ask for some help from the local government. The government will not want you to be scammed, as it gives a bad reputation to their country / area - therefore official authorities (governments, councils, unions) are the most trusted source of information - a scammer will tell you what he thinks you want to hear.
The last, most simple, rule to remember is: if it sounds too good to be true.... ...it's a scam.
Stay safe,
KrisW - uk phone supplier, datectech.
Quoting from [geteasytrading]:Almost all customers from nigeria are scamers.So don't believe them.
Quoting from [ir1uno]:
Hello Balquerock,Using Paypal is good. However, we don't know if the seller is happy about this too. Especially seller from asian countries, I don't think paypal payment method is favorable to them since they can not get the cash instantly.
In international trading. LC is indeed the most safest way of paying. However, if your transaction is usd5,000 or less, probably LC is too constly and complicated.
Finding reliable and trustable supplier/seller is probably the biggest investment a buyer has to make. The best way to do it is to visit the country of the producer and see for yourself. Yes it will be costly for you to make the trip, but once you clear this, you will have yourself a long term guarantee of good product suppliy.
Another way is to use reliable and trustable third party service to source for you and also do site inspection. This will also cost you but not as much as if you make the inspection by yourself.
Happy safe trading
I like your article about scammers and how they can use different methods to milk their victims but it is wrong for you to single out Nigeria as the only country with scammers.Please answer the following questions honestly.
1.are ALL the mobile phone sellers on this site from Nigeria?.I hear they have been scamming people.
2.In Indonesia,are there any criminals or was the police force set up only when nigerians arrived your shores?
While i am neither a Nigerian or holding brief for them,I find it disgusting the way you tried to portray a whole people as scammers.I have done a lot of business with people from all over the world and have been a victim of scam from Americans,European and even Indonesians.My advise to ANYONE who is involved in International trading is to do your homework peoperly before sending money to ANYONE ANYWHERE in the world.Our man here expects ALL Nigerians to be saints and he gets disappointed when he discovers that Nigeria contains both bad and good people like anywhere else in the world.Certainly,Mr.Madoff who scammed everyone for 50 BILLION dollars(yes 50 BILLION dollars.....google it) is NOT a NIGERIAN,or did he paint his skin white ?
Quoting from [oceantoodeep]:Quoting from [geteasytrading]:Almost all customers from nigeria are scamers.So don't believe them.
Thank you but this is a lie.This is a scam to make you RELAX when dealing with OTHER NATIONALS.There are scammers EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD.Just do your homework properly when dealing with ANYONE.Period.