Is selling on Alibaba a scam? Facts to know

In the morning, the factory owner received a call. The person on the other end of the line claimed to be an "Alibaba expert", with a sweet voice: just transfer a few tens of millions in advance, next week there will be an export booth, and in three months there will be a US application. He hesitated. His wife recalled the trillion-dollar fraud case called "Alibaba" that once caused a stir - and dismissed it:"Come on, it's a scam!"

Sound familiar?

This is the reason for the question"Is selling on Alibaba a scam?"typed so much in Vietnam. And the answer, frankly, is:There are scams — but not in the way you think.

The shadow named "Alibaba"

In 2019–2022, the Vietnamese press continuously reported onAlibaba Real Estate Joint Stock Company— a real estate business is accused of defrauding thousands of people into buying "ghost projects", with losses mentioned in the media at trillions of dong. The case shocked, and with it, the name "Alibaba" was stuck in the minds of millions of Vietnamese as a symbol of deception.

But here's the bottom line:

Alibaba Real Estate is a domestic real estate company. It's completely unrelatedAlibaba.com— a global B2B e-commerce platform, listed on the US stock exchange (NYSE: BABA), with more than 40 million active buyers from more than 200 countries.

Alibaba Real Estate case

Just like there is a grocery store named "Vietcombank" that operates fraudulently, it cannot be concluded that Vietcombank is a fraud. Yet many Vietnamese businesses — regrettably — have missed out on an entire export channel just because of... the same name.

But don't be so quick to believe absolutely: the risk is real

That doesn't mean you should just trust everything on Alibaba. There are crooks everywhere. For Vietnamese sellers, lost money often falls into the following 4 channels:

1. Ghost "store opening agent".Individuals and groups of people claiming to be official agents of Alibaba, offering "opening unusually cheap stores" packages, requiring quick money transfers to personal accounts, without contracts, without clear headquarters. Money disappears. This is the incident that makes many people feel the most sad — because they thought they were "buying Alibaba services" but were actually transferring money to strangers.

2. Fake "international visitors".A buyer account suddenly texted to place an order for a hundred containers, no haggling, no need for a sample, no need for a video call - only asking for one thing: transfer money outside Alibaba, or "pay a fee in advance to disburse the order". It sounds absurd, but under the pressure of "big orders", many people have fallen into the trap.

3. Email permission was hijacked, beneficiary account changed.Thieves attack a business's email or chat account (sometimes the partner's own), then send a message "bank account number has changed, please switch to a new number". If not cross-checked via phone/video call, the money will go into the pocket of the thief without both parties knowing.

4. Partner "bursts" payments.After delivery, the customer... disappeared. Or receive the goods and then complain about the quality to ask for a discount. This risk exists in any export channel — but on a foundation of clear processes, it can be almost completely avoided. The problem is whether you use the correct process or not.

Is it a real scam, or just a misunderstanding?

At this point, it is necessary to frankly distinguish two concepts that are being mixed together:

Distinguishing concepts is confusing

Experience from hundreds of businesses we work with shows: most stories of being "cheated" when listened closely... are just the disappointment of a stall that didn't do it right. In contrast, real money losses almost always have the same denominator: money goes outside the Alibaba system.

The truth about Trade Assurance — the "shield" you need to understand properly

Trade Assurance is an order protection service provided by Alibaba.com, launched in 2015. In essence: the platform plays an intermediary role, protecting buyers' payments against two main risks - late delivery and goods that do not meet the contractual quality. The protection limit can be up to 500,000 USD, depending on the provider level.

But there are 3 truths that few people clearly state:

First — protection is only valid when the transaction is within the platform.This is a sentence we repeat to each business over and over again: once you and your customer agree to "fast, straight transfer without fees", the entire layer of protection disappears. At that time, you are doing no different than sending goods to a stranger by mail.

Second — disputes are not always quick and smooth.Standard process: the buyer opens a dispute (usually within 15–30 days after delivery), the supplier has 3 days to respond, after the deadline the case is automatically transferred to Alibaba for mediation. The outcome depends greatly on the quality of the evidence: the contract clearly states quality standards, photos, third-party inspection reports — not generic "good quality" descriptors.

Third — Trade Assurance is not "all-powerful insurance".It does not protect when the buyer changes his mind, when the product is in accordance with the contract but does not sell well, or when the payment transaction is made outside the platform. Understanding the right scope of protection will help you set realistic expectations — and write your contract more carefully.

6 signs to identify crooks

No need to memorize hundreds of moves. Crooks, no matter how sophisticated, are almost always revealed through one of the following signs:

• Force transactions outside the platform.Reasons could be "avoid fees", "faster", "next time you'll get used to it". To hear is to know — stop.

• Unusually urgent."Offer only available today", "deposit now before losing your spot", "other partners are waiting". Thieves always put time pressure on you so you don't have time to think.

• Unreasonably large order.A new customer orders a hundred containers, doesn't bargain, doesn't need a sample, doesn't need a video call to check the factory - this goes against all the behaviors of a true B2B buyer.

• Ask for a "pre-charge".Anyone who asks you to transfer money to "receive applications", "disburse funds", "unlock accounts" — is a scam, no exceptions.

• Beneficiary account changes via email.Be extremely wary of any account number change notifications received via email or chat. Principle: call or video call to cross-confirm before transferring any money.

• "Agent" cannot be verified.No clear contract, money transferred to personal accounts, no business information that can be looked up on official channels.

6 golden rules to never get scammed

In contrast to the list above, here's what businesses should do — and make a habit of:

Golden rule to avoid scam traps

Is selling on Alibaba trustworthy?

The fairest answer: the platform is trustworthy — but your safety lies in how you use it.

Alibaba.com is not a scammer. It is a legal B2B exchange, transparent in terms of fee model (Gold Supplier membership + keyword advertising), has a transaction protection mechanism and a methodical dispute resolution process. More than 40 million buyers are looking for suppliers on there every year — many of which have real orders going to Vietnamese businesses.

Fraudsters, on the other hand, are always trying to get you out of the system — because the system is what protects you. Remember this, you have equipped yourself with the most important defense.

Contact us for advice on opening a booth - Don't wait another day!

Are you in Dong Nai, Binh Duong or Ho Chi Minh City? COMPANY LIMITEDALIBABA.COMVIETNAM - ALIBABA VIETNAM is ready to support:

• Head office: 19th Floor, Saigon Center Building, No. 67 Le Loi Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1

• E-mail:[email protected]

• Phone: +84 0987258510 (Mr. Dan)

• Branch 1: 10th Floor, Becamex Tower, 230 Binh Duong Avenue, Thu Dau Mot, Binh Duong

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• Branch 3:123 Cong Hoa, Ward 12, Tan Binh, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam

Call now 0987258510 – Mr. Dan for free consultation, support in opening a booth, optimizing products and exporting plans to the West in 2026. No consultation fee, no commitment, just be ready to act!

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