How do I check if a Chinese supplier is legitimate?

Get the full registered company name and business-licence number, then confirm them on China's official enterprise registry, the name, status and business scope should all match. Then video-verify the premises and order a sample before paying.

What is a Unified Social Credit Code?

It's the unique 18-character ID on every Chinese company's business licence. You can use it to look the company up on the national enterprise registry and confirm it's real, active and registered for what it sells.

How can I tell a factory from a trading company?

Check the registered business scope and ask for a live video of the production line and machinery. A real manufacturer can show you the floor; a trader usually can't, though some traders are upfront about it.

Is Alibaba Trade Assurance enough on its own?

It's a strong protection, it can refund you if an order doesn't match the agreed terms, but it isn't a substitute for verifying the company and sampling first. Use it together with the other checks, not instead of them.

A supplier asked me to pay a personal account, is that normal?

No, treat it as a serious red flag. Legitimate suppliers accept payment to the registered company account or through escrow/Trade Assurance. A personal account, or a sudden change of bank details, is a classic sign of fraud.

What are the most common China supplier scams?

Cloned or fake profiles, traders posing as factories, a good sample followed by poor bulk quality, fake certificates, and payment-diversion (a last-minute “new” bank account). Verifying first and paying through escrow defuses almost all of them.

Should I order a sample before a bulk order?

Always. A paid sample approved against your written spec is your quality benchmark and your cheapest insurance, never place a large order on photos alone.

Can I verify a supplier without travelling to China?

Yes, the registry check, video verification and a sample can all be done remotely. For larger orders an on-the-ground factory check adds confidence, which a China-based team can do on your behalf.

Can HCSG verify a supplier I already found?

Yes. Send us the company details and we'll confirm it on the registry, establish whether it's a real manufacturer, arrange a check and a sample, and give you a clear go/no-go before you pay.

How to Verify a Chinese Supplier (and Avoid Scams)

Supplier verification at a glance

Licensecheck it's real

Factoryor trader?

Escrowonly

Samplebefore bulk

The three checks that catch most problems

Do these before any money moves.

Official registry

Ask for the full registered name and business-licence / Unified Social Credit Code, then confirm it on China's official enterprise registry, name, status and business scope should match.

Know who you're paying

Check the business scope and ask to see the production line on video. Traders aren't bad, but you should know if there's a middleman in your price.

Never personal accounts

Use Alibaba Trade Assurance or escrow that releases funds only when you confirm the order. A request to pay a personal account is a red flag.

Red flags vs green flags

Most fraud shows the same tells, learn them and you'll spot trouble early.

Red flags (walk away / pause)	Green flags (reassuring)
Asks you to pay a personal account or off-platform	Accepts Trade Assurance / escrow
Bank details change at the last minute	Consistent, registered company bank account
Price is far below everyone else	Pricing in a normal range, with a clear quote
Won't do a video call or show the factory	Happy to video-call and show the line
Company name/licence won't verify on the registry	Name, licence and scope all match the registry
Pressure to pay fast, no sample	Welcomes a paid sample before bulk

How to verify a Chinese supplier, step by step

Work through these before you commit, or hand the whole check to us.

Get the registered details

Ask for the full registered company name and business-licence / Unified Social Credit Code, not just a trading name or a WeChat ID.

Check the official registry

Confirm the company on China's national enterprise registry: it should exist, be active, and have a business scope that matches what they sell.

Confirm factory vs trader

Check the scope and ask for a live video of the production line, machinery and stock, a real manufacturer can show you.

Verify platform status & track record

Check Trade Assurance, verified-supplier status, transaction history and reviews, and be wary of brand-new profiles with no record.

Sample, then pay through escrow

Approve a paid sample against your spec, then pay only via Trade Assurance or escrow, never to a personal account.

How HCSG handles this for you

Supplier verification, done where the supplier is, on the ground in China.

Registry & licence check

We confirm the company is genuinely registered and active, with a business scope that matches what they sell.

Factory verification

Our in-house arm, Hainan Apex Traders, establishes whether your supplier is a real manufacturer or a trader, with a video or on-site factory check.

Sample & goods inspection

Hainan Apex Traders arranges a sample against your spec and inspects the finished goods, so quality is proven before you pay in full.

Safe-payment guidance

We keep your payment on protected channels and flag the red flags before you commit.

The outcome: a clear, evidence-based go/no-go on any supplier, so you commit with confidence, not hope.

Specific, net-new answers, not a repeat of the guide above.