How to Verify Chinese Suppliers and Avoid Import Scams

Red Flags to Watch

Rock-bottom prices (30% below the market average), insistence on payment to a personal bank account, no verifiable factory address, refusal to show product photos or video, and urgency tactics (“discount ends today”) are the classic warning signs of a scam supplier.

Also be suspicious of suppliers who cannot provide a valid business licence, export licence or the product certificates you need for SONCAP.

How to Verify Before You Pay

Ask for a live video call inside the factory or warehouse. Request samples (always worth the freight cost – a bad sample saves you a bad container). Cross-check the company on Alibaba/Made-in-China review systems and request references from other Nigerian buyers. Confirm the factory is registered and can issue proper export documentation: Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Certificate of Origin and, where relevant, SONCAP certificates.

Payment Protection

Use Alibaba Trade Assurance or a letter of credit for large orders, or split payments (e.g. 30% deposit, 70% against the shipping documents). Never pay 100% upfront to a new supplier.

How CN9JA Protects Buyers

Every factory in our network is verified by our China-based sourcing team before we list it. We coordinate production, inspection and shipping, so you deal with one accountable partner rather than an anonymous Alibaba storefront.